If you’re like me, then at some point you had to read a classic novel in school. People in my classes had a distaste for them, especially with how they were written. Even though these books may be a little outdated when it comes to the English language, they still hold themes with relevance today.
Starting out, I wasn’t much of a reader. I thought, why read when you can watch? I hated all of my school assignments that involved books and would use SparkNotes to get myself through class. This changed when my mom got me into reading.
In high school, specifically during the end of my sophomore year, I decided to give reading a chance after my mom kept nudging me into it. I picked up a book, read the entire thing, and realized that I actually enjoy getting to design worlds in my head and picture what characters look like.
I have read this same book countless times over, and have found something new to love about it each time. So, what was this book? It was none other than “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austin.
I can say with confidence that this was the very first classic novel I had ever read. It took some getting used to, because the different writing style was so tricky to figure out at first, but once I got it I was hooked. I think what drew me in so much was that I could imagine the story actually happening centuries ago, as it very well could have.
After I finished reading this book I went on to read other works by Austin, including “Emma,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Persuasion,” which truly sparked my love for classic literature.
An example of a classic novel I read in school is “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. This was the first novel I had read by Dickens, and because I enjoyed his writing style so much, I read “A Christmas Carol” every year during the holidays.
Since I discovered this passion, I have also branched out to read a variety of different classic novels with an assortment of themes. Some of my favorites include “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “Peter Pan” by J.M. Barrie, “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” by Jules Verne, and “A Journey to the Center of the Earth” also by Jules Verne.
Why am I listing all these titles? Well, I wanted to show that I read a wide variety of topics and themes in classic literature, and have come to the conclusion that you can attribute every single one of them to the modern world.
I think people often forget that their struggles are not theirs alone. There are others (or in this case characters) who have faced the same battles and uphill climbs that we do.
Some of the more prominent themes from these classics include loneliness in relationships, the question of how to live life, the exploration of yourself, and that love and friendship are two things every person needs.
These are very basic examples of themes, and I could go into much more detail about each book, but the point is that they all connect to people today. I could see myself as Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice,” the strong and independent woman she was. But I also want the comfort that is shown in “The Little Prince” through friendship, and I want a chance to redeem myself when I make mistakes like Scrooge from “A Christmal Carol.”
Another area where these authors of classic stories thrive is in the ability to describe real and raw human emotion. These characters are written in a way that the reader either knows exactly how they are feeling, or is purposefully reading about someone who doesn’t show any emotions.
Having these traits portrayed so well really makes us take a second and reflect upon ourselves. Seeing and feeling what these characters are going through can help you form real world empathy towards yourself and others.
Classics can also help us to understand history and show many different experiences. To elaborate, when reading a classic you almost have to have your mind set in the past to picture events and details. Just because the characters aren’t real, doesn’t mean the events and experiences aren’t either. Understanding and visualizing these events allows us to see how we advanced and haven taken a step toward a better society.
These books show different experiences held by characters, representing all walks of life. From servants to nobility, classics allow the readers to become the character on the page through the extraordinary writing abilities of the author.
People have asked me if watching a movie adaptation of a classic novel is the same as reading it. My short answer to this is no. No, because you’re not fully stimulating your brain to process what is right in front of you. There are common distractions in films, like music or props, that distract the audience from the message. With reading, especially classics, there is nothing there except you and the book, taking it in at your own pace.
I know classics are not for everyone. It can be very hard to pick one up, especially outside of the classroom and of your own freewill. But hear me out, if classics were truly irrelevant then why even bother still talking about them? As long as these classics are read, their relevance will remain.