Should You Read Classics?
As an English literature student, I have to read a lot of classics. In response to any fairly difficult assignment, youngsters ask ‘ Why should I do this?’. So, I also asked the question to my teacher. So he told me —That’s a good question but I don’t know.
So I went to the Internet and searched for what famous people said about it. And I came onto a piece of text that fascinated me:-
A classic must transcend time and geography, act as a mirror to the society during that time period, and construct new discourses and conversations around the subject matter and themes.
(Nawshin Flora, Daily Star — Sep 27, 2023)
Classics address age-old questions about life, love, conflict, and what it means to be human. They reveal how people in different times and places think, making us reflect on our own experiences and beliefs. Even if a classic was written centuries ago, the struggles and emotions in the story will feel familiar. You will see we are all connected across time, and gain new ways to understand yourself.
That is not all; classics often have rich language and complicated stories. They challenge you to pay close attention, understand different writing styles, and think deeply about what you read. A huge part of our culture is influenced by the classics. Classics establish a shared cultural reference point, becoming ingrained in the collective consciousness of a society. They provide a common ground for discussions, artistic references, and even comparisons with current events.
In my country every Eid we play a song from a book that was written at least 200 years ago. It just became part of our culture. Religious texts are also classics. In such a way, those classics influenced practically every corner of the world. Again,
- Greek and Roman Mythology: These stories have profoundly influenced Western culture for centuries, inspiring countless works of art, literature, and music. From the epic poems of Homer and Virgil to modern movies like “Hercules” and “Wonder Woman,”.
- Shakespearean Classics: William Shakespeare’s plays have had a massive and enduring impact on the English language and theatre. Many words and phrases we use today were invented by Shakespeare. Examples include “bump,” “elbow room,” and “swatch.” The line “To be or not to be” from Hamlet is one of the most quoted lines in all of literature.
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: This anti-slavery novel played a significant role in shaping public opinion and igniting the abolitionist movement in the United States. Its depiction of the horrors of slavery exposed its brutality to a wider audience and contributed to societal change as well as influencing anti-colonial movements worldwide.
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain: This novel challenges societal norms and prejudices of 19th-century America through the eyes of a young boy. Its exploration of race, friendship, and individual conscience continues to spark discussions about racism, morality, and social justice and inspired countless works of literature and film.
Just like Haruki Murakami Said,
“No matter how much falls apart in the world, literature and music are always there, waiting to be rediscovered.”
