I've been rereading some classic novels lately, and I'm wondering—can we still separate the art from the artist when the author held deeply problematic views? For example, I love the prose of H.P. Lovecraft, but his racism is well-documented. Do his stories lose their value because of that? Or should we judge literature purely on its own merits, ignoring the creator's personal life? I'm genuinely torn on this, especially when we consider how many other great works are tied to flawed individuals.