Why is the historical context important to understanding n-rays?

Literature is a reflection of the time period the author lived in as well as the ideas they held about that time period.  For instance, an author might choose to write about a time period that was well before their own.

Historical context is an important part of life and literature and without it, memories, stories and characters have less meaning. ... In analyzing historical events, context can help us understand what motivates people to behave as they did. Put another way, context is what gives meaning to the details