Do We Really Need to Read the Classics?
Hi fellow readers and writerly friends!
This week in Bookish Things, we’re discussing something very near and dear to my heart and likely many other readers/writers’ hearts as well—do we really need to read the classics? I made the mistake of asking this to another editor early on in my freelance career and she hit me with “do you have to eat to stay alive?” Okay, got it, thanks. She was one of those nit-picky editors that new writers always fear at first. (You know the one—with the red pen, the beady eyes, and the too-tight turtleneck.) But she did have a point. And her comment reminded me of one of my favorite quotes.
“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
And what do you know? Emerson is regarded as a classic writer. (Albeit romantic, but yes, a classic)
And he had a point too. Writing and reading at it’s core is capturing the human existence and weaving it into the written word for all future generations to read. Reading is an integral part of the humanities and is one of the things that sets us apart from other mammals. Of course, we all know that reading is important, should be valued over many other mundane activities—and above all else—reading immortalizes our words.
Classics teach us to appreciate the evolution of modern literature
So, what does this have to do with the classics? To better understand and appreciate contemporary writing, we must read older writing as well.
Stack of classic books on my shelf. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Italo Calvino tackles this question in his collection of literary Criticism, Why Read The Classics, and Ginni Chen touches on this subject in a similar blog post on Barnes and Nobel Reads. I don’t claim to provide a more comprehensive answer than these two, but I thought I’d write my own blog post as well, because not only did I question the classics, but I think there is still a vast amount of people who don’t know why they should read them or don’t have any interest to do so. However, these few reasons to read the classics will make you want to rethink tossing your copy of Pride and Prejudice in the attic, and instead crack it open, dust off the pages, and see what you can learn from it.
Ginni explains that writing is a living, breathing entity that is immortalized in the way we tell stories and pass those techniques down from each generation:
“When you read the classics, you’re reading books that have had a pivotal role in shaping the way we read and write today. Books aren’t written or read in a vacuum. They’re woven by writers and consumed by readers with the influence of centuries of writing behind us. Whether we’re conscious of it or not, reading a book is never an isolated incident but part of a tradition.” -Ginni Chen, Para 2.
I agree with Ginni in that to better understand and appreciate writing, we must also read classic writing so that we understand fully what contemporary writing and reading began as and where it came from to become what we practice today.
Basket of classic books on my shelf. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Likewise, classic writing captures the essence of humanity from the time in which it was written. They act as literary milestones of our own literary traditions. Sometimes, classics reflect values, movements (realism or romanticism) or prominent genres (such as the rise in popularity of science-fiction and fantasy in contemporary writing). The classic writers sparked literary trends because they either a) did it first or b) did it best. Additionally, classics are often hailed for their challenging of societal constructs and values of the time. Take Kate Chopin’s writing, for example. Her works were lousy with feminist values and now she is known as one of the greatest American Feminist writers of all time.
How does this make you love reading more?
When we familiarize ourselves with the classics, we gain a better understanding of where other books fit in. You’ll start recognizing common themes, influences, references, structures, and many more elements in your reading that perhaps you hadn’t noticed before.
Ginni compares it to developing a sudden appreciation of wine:
“It’s like developing a sudden appreciation of wine—different notes open up to your palate, you detect hidden floral, fruity, or oaky elements, and you’re better able to articulate your tastes.” -Ginni Chen, Para 4.
Vintage typewriter and basket of classic books on my shelf. Photo by Payton Hayes.
When you learn to love the classics, you also learn to love your favorite stories even more. When you go back to your favorites, you begin to pick up on these elements you found in the classics and unearth depths you had never known existed prior. Elements of these books that may have initially seemed arbitrary or like attempts at attention-seeking, but now they seem intentional, calculated and clever. These elements help you to unpack the bigger picture parts of the story and allow you to begin to understand where other things come from such as the meaning in a character’s name, the use of certain words, or the presence of certain themes and their importance with regard to both the story and society at the time.
Another way the classics aid in your growth as both a reader and writer is that they also help you better identify your favorite writer’s literary influences. Often, writers borrow style, subject, and themes from the classics and as you become more familiar with classic literature, you begin to see your favorite writers as one writer paying homage to another by reinventing their storytelling elements in a new, refreshing, and exciting way. You’ll begin to understand how we’ve been telling the same handful of stories over and over again throughout the years, and how the use of the same few techniques, in combination with unique writer voice, has birthed millions of books that can all be traced back to the classics.
Ginni also compares reading the classics to travelling:
“Here’s another way of looking at it: Think about reading as traveling the world. In your travels, the classics are those must-see historical sites that you hear about and see in dozens of reproductions—the Great Wall, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the pyramids. Like these historical sites, the classics have withstood the test of time, are part of an incredible heritage, and can change your worldview entirely.” -Ginni Chen, Para 7.
Basket of classic books on my shelf. Photo by Payton Hayes.
I love that comparison because its exactly right. We always hear that being “well-read” is a good thing and in the bookish world it’s a title we strive for, so that should include the classics, right? Of course! I could go on and on about worldview and how we have such a limited perception of things, but I’ll spare you that rant for another time. The biggest takeaway from this blog post is that to gain a better understanding of humanity, our own existence and experiences, and how they relate to the existence and experiences of others, we absolutely must read. And moreover, we must read the classics just as we must read extensively from any genre we wish to write in. I keep bringing up writing and reading, but in the creative world, the two are inextricably linked. And that link is part of an even bigger packaged deal—understanding
ourselves and others. At it’s core, reading is in essence, humanity.
What do you think about reading the classics? Which classics have you read? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to check out Ginni’s blog post because I would have never thought to speak out on this topic without first stumbling upon her words.
Click here to read Ginni Chens post, “Why Read The Classics?” On Barnes and Nobel Reads
Click here to read Italo Calvino’s Book, “Why Read The Classics?”Pride and Prejudice
—Payton
