I am back to reading real literature and it feels good. All of the books I ordered from Amazon have arrived and I chose to read "Tess of the D'Ubervilles" first. I have finished it and have many thoughts as usual. I picked this one first because I am already a fan of Thomas Hardy. I love his progressive take on social issues such as marriage, religion and the rules and regulations of being part of a community. He was alive and writing in the late 1890's/early 1900's which feels shocking when you read one of his books because his plot lines and characters are so forward thinking. This particular novel addresses issues of social acceptance and the judgement that comes when someone does something outside the social norms of the time: in this case, its sex before marriage and having a child out of wedlock. Tess is a naive teenager living in a rural part of England with her poverty stricken family. When the family learns that they are descendents of a wealthy family, the parents send Tess to this family to claim their inheritance and what ensues from there is the catalyst that builds the backbone of the novel. She is "seduced" by the male of the house, Alec D'Uberville which results in Tess becoming pregnant. Hardy uses the word seduced which in our modern day vernacular translates to rape. She runs back to her family in shame and delivers the baby who promptly dies. Before she buries him she names him Sorrow which of course is reflective of how Tess feels at this point in her life. After a period of time she meets another man, Angel who falls in love with her but this time Tess reciprocates the feeling. What ensues after this is nothing short of tragic. Of course. I won't say all but most classics are pretty heartbreaking and this novel is definitely that. I won't give away what happens to Tess but some of the acts she chooses to commit as the novel progresses are born of desperation, love, fear and loneliness. In many ways this novel is a love story but is is also about the feelings of shame Tess has about her past and her fear that Angel will judge her for it and not love her anymore. I think we can all relate in some ways to this - no one has a perfect past and we all fear that the person we love the most might not always be around.This novel is also about family and our responsibilities towards them. Tess is the oldest daughter and both her parents are unwell. There is a burden on her shoulders to please them as well as provide for her siblings. She is torn by her responsibility to them and her love for Angel. Again something most people can relate to, I really enjoyed this novel. Hardy was so forward thinking and really hit on issues that still resonate today. This is the mark of a true classic in my opinion. Next up: "Gone with the Wind." I already think I' m going to hate it. Not the best way to approach a new novel I know but lets see shall we?
There are varying definitons and opinions about what defines a classic but they all have 3 things in common: 1. It stands the test of time 2. It has universal appeal 3. It has artistic quality I have to add my own to these three and that is that it moves you to feel something - whether it be love, hate, anger, sadness or joy, a classic work of literture should have the power to move. This has led me to reflect upon my first real experience with being moved by a book. I read a lot as a child and teenager but largely to impress my mother who was a librarian. My reading experience didn't extend beyond Stephen King and the Baby Sitter's Club books. Then my junior year in high school, my English teacher assigned, "A Separate Peace." by John Knowles, a typical high school reading list book. I approached it like I did every school assigment - with diligence but little to no enthusiasm. Three quarters of the book was pretty forgettable....
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