How can context influence the interpretations of a text?

Choosing the first option is valid because context indeed plays a crucial role in shaping how a text is understood. Historical and cultural factors provide a backdrop against which readers can interpret the themes, characters, and events within a text. For example, understanding the time period in which a work was written can illuminate the societal norms and issues that influence the characters' actions and motivations. Similarly, cultural context can reveal how different audiences might perceive the same text in varying ways based on their own beliefs and values.

This option encapsulates the multifaceted nature of context by acknowledging that it is not just about the author’s experiences, as indicated in another choice, but also about the wider societal and cultural dynamics at play. By analyzing a text through the lens of context, readers can gain a richer, more nuanced understanding that extends beyond the words on the page.