If we talk about classical literature, it is a body of work that truly stands the test of time, always possessing something new to teach us about the complexities of human beings. It serves as the basic foundation for modern literature, as ancient texts written centuries ago essentially taught us the art of storytelling. Countless modern books, movies, and plays continuously adapt the very same plot twists and character archetypes originally invented by classical authors.
The seven core features of literature that act as the building blocks to construct a narrative — character, setting, plot, conflict, theme, point of view, and style — were actually laid down by classical writers. These components remain the basics for any creative writing today, exploring universal themes such as love, ambition, morality, power, and justice. Because these motifs are timeless, they easily engage the interest of readers, no matter which age or period they belong to.
Classics help us practise empathy by putting us in the shoes of individuals completely different from ourselves, and reading them at different stages of life allows us to discover entirely new dimensions within the text. While we change as individuals, the book remains the same, exploring the timeless truth that human nature itself never alters. They show that joy, love, fear, and heartbreak stay constant across all centuries.
Despite the constant stream of contemporary publications, revisiting classical writers remains a necessity because their words resonate deeply across generations and cultures. Throughout the literary history of English literature, the work of great classical writers was regularly affected by historical changes, the ruling monarchs, and the philosophical shifts occurring during that particular era. All these societal movements play a massive role in shaping the themes and perspectives written by any author.
The great classics written beautifully and read today with the same enthusiasm and fervour include the plays of William Shakespeare, like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet during the Renaissance period. This continuity passes through Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in the Romantic period, novels like Hard Times and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens in the Victorian age and works like Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell in the modern era.
It is not only that we return to great classics in English literature, but in Urdu literature we similarly return to the works of Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Saadat Hasan Manto, Allama Iqbal, Deputy Nazir Ahmad, and Mir Taqi Mir. This timelessness extends to classic cinema as well, with films like Lawrence of Arabia, Ben-Hur, Casablanca, and Gone with the Wind remaining remarkable because of their universal themes and exceptional production values, despite being created more than half a century ago.
Furthermore, the classics written by ancient Greek and Roman writers, such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles, laid the foundational templates for modern writers in terms of heroic characters and dramatic style. These pieces are precious cultural gems to be preserved and passed on to future generations. They should be treasured because every successive generation will inevitably discover something completely new within their pages.
To conclude, a book may be considered truly classical only if it stands the test of time, possesses universally applicable themes, and offers enduring artistic value. No matter how much we appreciate modern literature, a return to the classics remains mandatory because it gives us a sense of wholesome connection. These stories provide a safe space to feel deep, complex emotions, helping us connect with characters who lived hundreds of years ago while sharing the exact same experiences of love, joy, grief, and fear.