I think all literary text is meant to become its own "self." That is what allows for the reader to have their own reader response to what has been written. This "self" that the literary text brings as an "autonomous" piece of work forms its own "self-identity" in the mind of the reader. If an author intended for his work to be read with his life or viewpoints in mind than it would be displayed in the text for the reader to identify on his own. Even then a reader is limited because his/her "self" has their own personal identity which influences how the work is read and what viewpoints or conclusions are formed.
For me a text is an autonomous piece of work that becomes identified as its own "self" the first time I read it. If I read the text again however, the identity of the text continues to mold/change as I begin to view things through a more critical lens. Just like my own "self" is constantly changing, the works I read may constantly change with me. Do I consider factors such as what the authors life was like or his/her intention for writing a book into consideration before I read a text? No, because if the author wants me to do that it will be part of his work.
Nicely done!
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