Why You Should Read the Classics and Where to Start
Something reading builds a world up around you as you continue sentence to sentence – plunging further into the depths of the literary world.
Some may call this a ‘journey’ with each book bringing you another step of the way acting as one more city or sight to see.
If this were the case then the great classics of literature would be the equivalents of the Eiffel Tower, Angkor Wat or the Taj Mahal in real-life travelling. Boasting beauty, historical relevance, and inspiring a sense of connection to other humans – it is clear to see why both these sights and classic literature have kept their appeal and prominence throughout the ages.
So here a few reasons why you should read the classics...
Still Relevant Today
There’s a reason why the stories of these classics have been reread throughout the centuries and are continually being adapted into new media forms. They consist of timeless lessons and eternal themes that are inherent to humans and their life experiences.
One particularly striking parallel that can be drawn between a classic and the current societal climate is the villain from Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ believing that not being able to wield his privilege as power is a form of oppression. Even one of the ultimate classics stretching back to ancient Greece is still relevant to today’s world with its themes of travel and self-discovery.
Sylvia Plath’s classic could have been written today if it weren’t for the style choices mentioned throughout the novel! With its themes of sexism, depression, and anxiety, this book is shed light on a topic that was largely in the dark during Plath’s time. We can now appreciate the book’s trailblazing qualities from a time of further enlightenment.
Historical Relevance
Tying into the previous point, the classics were all written in their own time. We are accustomed to reading about eras through facts. History can sometimes seem like it was just black and white. The classics add colour to this view. Showcasing just how people lived during these times. Times that would be hard to access or relate to if books were not here to illuminate the intricacies of their people’s day to day lives. Their interactions, focus, worries, and how they traversed the society around them.
Seeing different periods of time like this gives us a new vantage point from which to judge our standing in the world. It allows us to muse upon how we may be looked back on, and what our contemporary books will say about us to future generations.
Make You Fall in Love With Reading
Due to literature being so deeply intertwined with history, time can be tracked back according to literature styles.
If you read enough classics, you’ll soon be adept at guessing the period during which a book was published due to subjects the characters are particularly focused on, their surroundings, slang and much more.
Classics are usually called classics due to being emblematic of their times or styles they are written in. Read enough classics and you’ll be able to connect the dots between books of now and then. Not only will you gain insight into the world’s history but also the history of literature, deepening your appreciation of all books as you begin to understand where they came from.
You’ll Get the References
The classics have been reimagined countless times in a variety of ways due to their unchanging and ageless themes. They speak of stories that we all know, of events that could still happen today despite the change in setting or slang!
That’s why audiences piled in to see Victor Hugo’s 19th-century play ‘Les Misérables’ acted out on the big screen, it’s why almost all of Jane Austen’s novels have been made into successful movies. The heart of the story remains despite the passing of time.
With ‘The Lion King’ being based on Hamlet and ‘Bridget Jones’s diary’ using Pride and Prejudice as inspiration, it’s clear to see the effects that classical literature still has worked its way into pop culture by providing storylines for the media we consume today. A comparison was even drawn between ‘Twilight’ and Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights.’
Your experience of media will be enhanced, and you’ll even feel more cultured as you make references to the classics in conversation or in your writing.
It’s a Challenge
Most of the classics are no walk in the park. They’re bulky, wordy and oh so worth it in the end. The achievement of finishing a classic book is all down to the lengthy, thought-provoking sentences of which it is filled, and the extensive vocabulary employed to make those sentences.
The more you exercise your reading skills, the more they will improve and before you know it, you’ll be hopping from classic to classic after indulging in each of their unique and marvellous words. Being able to read and process the information from a complex classical book will also help in other aspects of your life. Those university and school books won’t stand a chance against your well-oiled machine of a brain once you’ve gotten a number of classics under your belt! Your ability to swiftly comprehend, process and then mull over the information will be next to none.
Reading a classic will not be like reading a general book, they’re called classics for a reason, it will require time and thought but the rewards are tenfold in the end. The sense of accomplishment and improved cognitive abilities will have you hunting out classic after classic.
WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
A Few Book Recommendations...
As I’ve said and as we all know – picking a good book to read is complicated. It’s fantastic that you have now whittled your overwhelming amount of reading options down to classics. What’s surprising, however, is just how many there are.
We think of the classics as an elite, domineering genre that all follow the same rules. This is not the case. Classics are an eclectic and multifaced bunch that you will have no problem selecting a suitable book from as long as you do the necessary research.
To save you time in your reading endeavours, I have compiled a list of a variety of classics suitable for those who are just dipping their toe into the grand world of classical literature for the first time.
“THE GREAT GATSBY”– F. Scott Fitzgerald
The glitz and the glam of the 1920s are permanently etched into this bastion of literary wonder. The pure hedonism and freedom of a world that does not yet know the desolation of the era that was ‘The Great Depression’. This book is already etched into the heart of millions and for good reason. It’ll teach you some vital life lessons about integrity and focus. Perhaps you’ve already seen the blockbuster movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio or the 1974 film with Robert Redford as Gatsby, the book is still very much worth reading.
“BRAVE NEW WORLD”
– Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley knit together this dystopian novel set in the future by focusing on the idea of freedom. Written in 1932, just before world war II, the world was in need of a book like this. Showcasing the downfalls of giving up freedom for comfort, fear, and fascism and just how easy it is to paint these horrors as a utopian society, the book is standout in its genre. Reference is still often made to this book when privacy and freedom are speculated on.
“THE HANDMAID’S TALE” – Margaret Atwood
We often hear reference to this book nowadays due to the current social climate surrounding women’s rights and the popular Netflix series, but do we really know the intention behind the book? This amazingly intricate and layered book cannot be deciphered from a TV series or summary. It must be read and contemplated in all its glory for one to truly comprehend its meaning.
“JANE EYRE”
– Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre is true to its name as a Victorian novel, showing us the bleak childhood of an orphaned, strong-willed girl who grows into a woman with a variety of struggles, who must navigate the social obligations placed on women at the time. Jane Eyre is a profound and captivating tale – rife with the dark yet florid style often attributed to the Brontë sisters.
“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY”
– Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, an author once jailed for “indecency” due to his sexual orientation, was a man that would’ve thrived in our day. His books were also temporarily banned, but their stories are timeless. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a twisted and intoxicated tale of a man obsessed with youth who finds a way to stay forever young. The book is awash with wisdom and moral lessons that will serve you in life.
“ANNA KARENINA”
– Leo Tolstoy
If you’re not afraid of big books and up for a challenge… Cited by many as being the world’s greatest novel, Anna Karenina is clearly a must-read. A story based on a young, graceful woman searching for much more from life than her husband can offer. This tale will bring you from wretchedly sad lows to the heights of intrigue as it provides you with a glimpse into the upper-class lifestyle of 19th Century Russia.
