What is the point of reading literature? One could answer in multiple ways, but I believe the most important answer is that reading generates reflective thinking. As readers, we can put ourselves in the position of various characters in a literary work and think about their lives, actions, thoughts, values, priorities, etc. Following that reflection, we usually pass judgment on that character, and then, hopefully, we take the next step and apply the reflection and judgment to our own lives. We can learn to be better humans from the successes and failures of the characters.
Yesterday, I assigned this very task to all students in English IA and English II. They were to pick any character from the first three short stories covered in class, reflect on the character's behavior and determine what actions/thoughts/values should be changed. I can't assign the application of that learning to their individual lives, but they can certainly choose to do so on their own. I hope they do so.