Individual vs community

In what way is the novel the best symbolic expression between the individual and social life in modern society?

"The epic hero is, strictly speaking, never an individual. It is traditionally thought that one of the essential characteristics of the epic is the fact that its theme is not a personal destiny but the destiny of a community." pg. 66

I believe that as an individual within a community, it is important to attempt to apply these larger themes (which are meant for the community at large) to oneself. In doing so, it not only comprises individualistic emotions within the self but also allows the individual to relate to others who also draw a relation of some sort out of the same theme. In a novel and especially one with an epic hero (in the form of a tragedy) it is easy to connect both worlds into the same source, in order to tie the community at large into individual attitudes. Because individuals within a "perfect" society that nature will provide are meant to, in essence, be the same, we are able to make grand themes "work" for our individual lives which are altered by the presence of various factors including social norms, customs, and overall lifestyles shaped by other individuals within our societies.

Furthermore, a tragedy is the absolute BEST form of a novel by which to bring a society together. Tragedies, unlike other forms of novel offer the tragic hero, who takes the burden of the larger problems faced by society and sacrifices him/herself for the sake of the community at large. So while the individual can find their own meaning from a given theme that falls into the larger societal category; the connection can also come from this very sacrifice of the tragic hero. The connection is no longer individually based and ensures that they will come together because of the larger problems which we all face as human beings. Then and only then can people start making judgments and assertions towards their individual aspects within their lives.

"...nature as a set of laws for pure cognition, nature as the bringer of comfort to pure feeling, is nothing other than the historico-philosophical objectivization of man's alienation form his own constructs." pg 64

And this type of novel and novel in general is quite necessary in our modern society because of the complexity that has resulted from years of historical buildup via practice, experience, and existence. In the beginning, there was nature and nature alone which guided truth and unity. As our society expanded and began to achieve infinite complexity, it resulted in subsequent limitless emotion and destiny. Therefore we need something today that can bring us back together in the form of a single community that holds the same truths and ideals. The symbolism of the novel can act as such by tying together history, morals, and nature into one piece.