The pen is mightier than the sword. When society becomes so callous as to forget the collective well being of humanity and tyranny reigns, inflicting violence; physical, emotional and intellectual, can personal expression survive?
Personal expression has to address the pressing problems of the day and Literature with social obligation will emerge. A writer cannot be disconnected from the social reality, and expression disconnected from the social milieu is at best a fanciful flight, enamored with the self.
Obligation is certainly a huge expression because, Literature obligated to produce something will be restricted in scope and appeal and may eventually degenerate into propaganda reflecting the ideas and ideology endorsed by someone.
Hence Literature is a fine balance of both, and a conscious writer is always in communication with the social reality, engaging with, and engaged by it.
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s cabin, Theoder Dreiser’s Sister Carrie, Maxim Gorkhy’s Mother, Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls, Mulk Raj Anand’s Coolie and Prem Chand’s Godan are examples of not only great Literature but also a writer’s response to the existing social reality.