Guest Commentary — Is anyone reading the classics? – Part II
As the years go by, studies show that vocabulary levels are dropping, illiteracy is rising and cultural references are gradually disappearing within American classrooms and everyday lives. The classics are referred to as such for a very logical reason, they are pioneers in the world of literature; unique for their time, possessing a powerful narrative or an engaging plot that readers were captivated or scandalized by it. Modern writers, novels, film and television shows are inspired and motivated by the classics; in fact many are simply contemporary interpretations of classic works! The hit show “House” is simply “The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes,” while the ”90s film “Clueless” was Jane Austen”s “Emma” and “Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?” is Homer”s “Odyssey.” Yet, the newer generations don”t seem to be aware of this! Ask a 20-year-old if they know who the Scarlett Pimpernel is (references to the work are continuously made in shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons). Ask a 17-year-old if they know what book the quote: “Please sir, I want some more.” came from. Ask a 30-year-old what the real story of Don Juan is about. Enter a room and call out “Has anyone ever heard of Dr. Synn?” Most won”t be able to answer.
This doesn”t change the fact that classic novels have imbedded themselves in our daily language and lives. The Starbuck Coffee chain is named after Mr. Starbuck, the first mate on the ship Pequod in “Moby Dick”, Long John Silver”s is also named after a character in Robert Louis Stevenson”s “Treasure Island;” but very few people today know this. I actually came upon a class of high school seniors who had never even heard the story of the “Ugly Duckling” (let alone who wrote it), nor had any of them heard the nursery rhyme “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.” So, is anybody reading?
True, there are many contemporary novels topping the best-seller charts and being produced into major motion pictures (after which, people bypass the book all together), but no one seems to be reading those books that are important to the change, development and the preservation of mankind; because as insignificant as they may seem sitting upon a shelf, they are a glimpse into the past and a blueprint for the future. I am not saying that new works of literature should be ignored (for they too, will someday be classics), only that it would be very beneficial to set aside some time to familiarize oneself with them. If you”re looking for something new to read, reach for a work by H.G. Wells before grabbing the latest law and order mystery or Fabio covered romance; you”ll probably be greatly surprised at what you were missing all this time. If you”re one of those people who read the classics in high school years ago, pick them up again for a second read. You”ll probably be even more surprised at what you”ve overlooked the first time and if you failed to enjoy them in your youth, you may be able to appreciate them in your life now.
Michelle Berger is a contributing writer to the Record-Bee. When not writing, she”s usually reenacting fight scenes from Kung Fu flicks.
