Article by Sydney Loder
According to students, having to read classical literature is one of the most dreadful assignments. Many state that the classics are the reason they no longer read, as it took all the enjoyment out of the action. Teachers are highly aware of these feelings, so why do they continue to assign readings on classical literature? What is so important that they must ignore our input and continue on?
In my own studies of the old classics, I have found their importance lies not in their words, but on the lessons they provide of our history. They allow us to take a deep dive into the artistic views of different time periods throughout the world. A simple story could hold tremendous value in its historical pertinence as it could highlight the political and societal turmoil of a struggling nation. For example, Animal Farm by George Orwell bases its events on Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution and the betrayal by Joseph Stalin. Orwell himself has written many pieces of classical literature, my favorite being Fahrenheit 451, as its purpose is derived in the importance of literature to a society, no matter what the work is. This brings us to another reason as it pertains to why we read the classics…
Classical literature allows us to see the importance of our own societies and the foundations upon which they were built. One of the most popular examples of this is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald whose theme revolves around the realities of the American Dream (although many readers like it due to the romance). In this novel the American Dream is displayed as being materialistic and non-conceivable due to its depiction of wealth and extravaganza failing to be enough to bring happiness and love. However, this depiction of the American Dream can be rivaled by that of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. This play follows a black family in the late 1950’s as they strive to make a better life for their family and rise above the social turmoil's of the time. In this case, the American Dream is that of freedom and new beginnings.
While classical literature displays the ideologies upon which our nations were built, they can also be far simpler in meaning. In many cases, the classics became the classics because they broke through the boundaries of writing. Truman Capotes In Cold Blood became a classic as it created an entirely new genre. This nonfiction narrative gave a retelling of the 1959 Clutter family murder that occurred in Holcomb, Kansas. Another example includes Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence, which gained its popularity during a conservative time due to the sexuality in its nature.
So why read classical literature? Well, in short, the classics provide a foundation and base of knowledge for the world around us. Whether they broke through the boundaries of the time or give us an in depth understanding of our history, they allow us to see into the minds of those we’ve never met, but know all too well. From Coketown by Charles Dickens to Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, classical literature covers every part of our behavioral, societal, and environmental history on this planet. The insight these novels provide give us a clear path to how we arrived where we are now. The classics are so important as they show us how our past is directly correlated to our future.
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