Existential resilience: How global historical changes affect who we are

In literature, we always want the main hero to succeed. We follow the hero's quests and feats, we feel with them, we learn with them. Ukraine has emerged as the 'unexpected' hero in an epic battle for freedom no one thought would have to be fought again in Europe, giving new life to political and moral ideas which many had taken for granted. Literature helps us make sense of such critical points in history through fiction and how such colossal changes affect people's ways of thinking and feeling. How can literature help us make sense of the historical turning point currently unfolding in Ukraine? Why do so many not want this new hero, this new political nation to win? And how can literature help these sceptics understand Ukraine's quests and feats, feel with Ukrainians, learn from the mistakes of the past?