One Classic Book I Would Change the Ending To: Anne of Green Gables (Spoilers!)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

 If you could change the ending of one classic book, what would it be and why?

Spoilers for the end of Anne of Green Gables!

Anne of Green Gables is one of my very, very favorite books, and I generally think it’s perfection. I’ve read it at least 20 times, and each time I think it was better than the last.

So why would I change something about the ending? If you’ve read the book, you’ve probably guess: I would stop Matthew from dying!

Matthew is really a shining star of a character. He’s quiet and incredibly awkward around women, but that makes his staunch support of Anne and her imagination and her talkative nature all the more heartwarming. I love seeing Marilla gently chide him for “encouraging” Anne by listening to her ridiculous stories. I love his faith in Anne, and how he knows she’s smart and an excellent student. I love when he gathers up his courage to finally get Anne a more stylish dress (and his painfully awkward scene at the store trying to order the materials, only to end up leaving with an absurd amount of brown sugar is one of my favorite in the book!).

Matthew, basically, is just what Anne needs. Or what she needs to balance out Marilla, who has stricter ideas about how to raise a child (and she’s right some of the time if not all of the time). You can tell how much Matthew loves Anne and how much she loves Matthew, so when he dies at the end of the book, it’s simply heartbreaking. I want to keep him around!

And L. M. Montgomery is on my side here. I think she and I both recognize that he had to die at some point. That just kind of feels right to the story, and the heartbreak is something that does add to the book, even while it saddens readers. But Montgomery implies she would have at least delayed his death (I believe if she’d known how well the book would sell and that she’d have the chance to write Anne a whole series):

“Many people have told me that they regretted Matthew’s death in Green Gables. I regret it myself,” wrote Lucy Maud Montgomery in her autobiography, The Alpine Path. “If I had the book to write over again, I would spare Matthew for several years. But when I wrote it, I thought he must die, that there might be a necessity for self-sacrifice on Anne’s part, so poor Matthew joined the long procession of ghosts that haunt my literary past.”

anneofgreengables.com

So, yes, I would love to seen an end of Anne of Green Gables where Matthew gets several more happy years to watch Anne grow up.

A Tale of Two Cities: My Favorite Charles Dickens Novel

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

Which one of Charles Dickens’ works is your favorite?

Spoilers for the end of A Tale of Two Cities!

Though I love many of Charles Dickens’ novels, often because of his witty characterization and tightly-woven plots, A Tale of Two Cities moves me profoundly in ways not all of his works do. In particular, I am moved by Sydney Carton’s story arc, which can be read either as a redemption arc, or as a final act of defeat. That is, does Sydney Carton redeem himself–a dissipated alcoholic who could be brilliant, but is too lazy to improve–by giving up his life for someone he loves? Or is his death a final act of desperation, a choice he makes because he despairs of ever bettering himself in life? Or, could it possibly be both? These questions, centered around Carton and his character, are, in part, what draw me to the story again and again, as I watch Carton’s life trajectory play out and constantly wonder–Could it be different, this time?

Many have criticized A Tale of Two Cities for having “flat” characters, from the beautiful and angelic Lucie to the upright Charles Darnay. However, I think that the seeming flatness of these characters is, in part, what allows Carton’s characterization to shine. In a world where everyone else seems to have it all figured out, where they seem to find goodness easy, where they think it perfectly rational to walk into a situation where they will not make it out alive–all because the truth must matter more than passions, right?–Carton struggles to fit in. He knows what goodness is. He knows he does not have it. He even recognizes that, though he loves Lucie, he could never marry her because he would be a terrible husband. But for some reason he simply cannot change. Carton is the intriguing enigma at the heart of the story, the man whose character is so complex and so dynamic that, in many ways, it drives the tale. While the others weather hardships and struggles with good humor and grace, Carton rails against life. His is the character that reminds readers of just how unfair life can be, when characters like Lucie and her father prefer to turn the page on the past, or characters like Darnay naively assume that honesty and goodness will always win.

And the beauty of Carton’s character is that, despite all his flaws, he feels wonderfully, fearfully human. Dickens writes of Carton, “Sadly, sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise, incapable of his own help and own happiness, sensible of the blight on him, and resigning himself to let it eat him away.” Carton despairs of being able to change, and settles for inaction instead. But this does not make him any less sympathetic of a character. The power of literature is that it allows readers to see into the heart of a man who is lazy, struggling with alcohol, and seemingly incapable of bettering himself–and readers can feel pity instead of scorn.

I love many aspects of A Tale of Two Cities–the vivid historical backdrop, the drama of the plot, the way the pieces of the plot all neatly fit together. But it is Carton’s character in particular that always draws me back. His struggles illustrate the frailty of us all, the ways in which it can be so easy to slide into a bad habit, or into inaction, or into despair. Yet his choices also show the best of the humanity, as he gives the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the happiness of a family he loves. Maybe his final act is partly out of despair of ever being able to do better in life–but it also has a bit of hope to it. The hope that others will do the things in life that he was not able to do. The hope that he can help others–and find some value in being the one who lifted them up.

5 Classics on My TBR List

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

What are some classics on your TBR list? Why?

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

I love Charles Dickens, but I have yet to read every book he has written. This is just one of a number of Dickens books on my TBR list.

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

Dumas is well-known for writing The Three Musketeers, but that book is only the first in a series. I still need to read The Man in the Iron Mask, the last adventure of the Musketeers.

The Judy Bolton Books by Margaret Sutton

I only managed to read the first three Judy Bolton books, before the public library said they could not find any more for me. But I am interested in reading about a teenage sleuth who ages over the course of the books, eventually marrying.

Mr. Bliss by J. R. R. Tolkien

It’s inconceivable to me that I still have not read this children’s book by J. R. R. Tolkien!

Penny Parker Books by Mildred A. Wirt

Wirt was the first ghostwriter for the Nancy Drew series, but she also wrote books under her own name, including the Penny Parker series. Penny, like Nancy, is a sleuth, but she works for her father’s paper and, apparently, Wirt favored Penny over Nancy (perhaps because she had more creative control over the books). I’ve loved Nancy for years, so of course I have to meet Penny!

8 Classic Series I Love (Classic Remarks)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

What are some classic series you love?

Little Women Books by Louisa May Alcott

The sequel to the classic Little Women, Little Men follows the students at Jo’s boarding school as they get into scrapes and learn how to be better people. Essentially, it’s Little Women but with (mostly) boys as the focus. The March family make cameo appearances, which is fun. It’s arguably not quite as good as Little Women, which is probably why it has been adapted less and experienced less popularity. Still, fans of the the first book will find some of the same charm in this one.

Jo’s Boys follows the students at Jo’s boarding school as they begin to grow up, fall in love, and decide what they want to do with their lives. It’s bittersweet watching Jo watch her boys set off into the unknown. She clearly wants the best for them, but she also knows she cannot keep them safe with her forever. It’s a worthy follow-up to Little Men.

Learn why I still love Little Women

The Three Musketeers Books by Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas’s classic novel saw the publication of two sequels, Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten Years After.  This third book is typically published in English in three volumes, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Vallière, and The Man in the Iron Mask. The great thing about the series is that D’Artagnan grows up, and realizes just how awful he was as a young man. However, the high-stakes drama continues in each of the installments.

The Hornblower Series by C. S. Forester

C.S. Forester’s Hornblower series seems to have it all. Action and adventure set on the high seas during a fascinating historical moment, the Napoleonic Wars. A compelling hero who possesses an intellect as remarkable as his physical courage. One of my favorite male friendships, forged by shared hardships. Even a star-crossed romance. It’s a treat to watch Hornblower ascend through the ranks, until a well-deserved retirement.

The Nancy Drew Books by Carolyn Keene

I first fell in love with the Nancy Drew stories when I was growing up and my mother pulled a few of the classic yellow hardbacks out of some forgotten box for me to read. I am sure she does not remember this moment, but I do, because it would instill in me a love of the girl sleuth that continues to this day. Nancy Drew was a smart, skilled teenager who never backed down from a case and who always solved the mystery, regardless of the obstacles she faced. In addition, she was always confident, kind, and polite. If I didn’t want to be Nancy, I definitely wanted to be like her. I still love reading the books and playing the Nancy Drew PC games!

Check out our list of books to read if you love Nancy Drew!

Anne of Green Gables Books L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables is, of course, Montgomery’s most famous work, and it’s not difficult to guess why.  Anne is a girl full of imagination who longs for beauty and who also finds herself forever getting into scrapes.  She can take readers from a moonlit journey to distant shores back to the harsh reality of farm life, red hair, and broken slates in an instant.  Though she was introduced in 1908, touches of the sentimental lie lightly on the story, and Anne’s adventures and concerns feel as fresh and relevant as ever. Seven sequels followed, as well as few companion books.

Emily of New Moon Books by L. M. Montgomery

Anne Shirley may be L. M. Montgomery’s most famous heroine, but Emily of New Moon possesses her own unique charms. Sensitive to beauty, possessed of a strong sense of justice, and endowed with the famed Murray pride, Emily bears some similarities to Anne but is ultimately her own character. Her adventures are not the misadventures of Anne but the typical ones of childhood–attempting to fit in at school, being subjected to the teacher’s sarcasm, visiting relatives, and having her first real fight with a friend. Montgomery transforms it all, making Emily’s pain and delight come to life in equal measure. I love all three books in this trilogy!

Which L. M. Montgomery work should you read next?

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Lewis’s Narnia books are a classic for a reason. As soon as Lucy steps through the wardrobe, readers know they are in a magical world unlike any other. I went on many an imaginative adventure in Narnia growing up, and I still can’t help but check the backs of any mysterious-looking wardrobes!

What order should you read The Chronicles of Narnia in?

The Scarlet Pimpernel Books by Baroness Orczy

Baroness Orczy’s elusive hero proved so popular that his adventures continued in ten sequels and two collections of short stories–the first written was I Will Repay, about a young girl sworn by her father to kill the man she loves.  The Pimpernel’s series also expanded to include two books about one of his ancestors, The Laughing Cavalier and The First Sir Percy, as well as one about a descendant living after World War I, Pimpernel and Rosemary.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Why Anne of Green Gables Speaks to Contemporary Readers (Classic Remarks)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

Why do you think Anne of Green Gables still speaks to contemporary readers?

Although L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is set in the late 1800s on Prince Edward Island, I believe it speaks to readers today, readers from around the world and all walks of life, because many of the themes and Anne’s life experiences are, at their core, universal. While readers may never be an orphan or live on a farm or attend a one-room school or do half the things Anne does, her childhood struggles to make sense of world, fit in with others, and navigate relationships with others are things that readers can continue to understand and empathize with.

I’ve always thought Montgomery as a writer has a keen understanding of how it feels to be a child, and that understanding is what helps her characters come alive. One of the earlier scenes in Anne of Green Gables, for instance, involves Mrs. Rachel Lynde looking at Anne and calling her, straight to her face, homely. Mrs. Lynde hits on a particularly touchy point when she mentions Anne’s red hair, which Anne has never liked (and who can’t relate to having something about one’s appearance that one wishes to change?), but the heart of the matter — which Anne points out — is that these are cruel things Mrs. Lynde would never have said to another adult. Adults are worthy of respect; one might comment on a lady’s ugliness behind closed doors, but would never walk up to and tell her point blank that she isn’t pretty. Because Anne is a child, however, Mrs. Lynde, and initially Marilla, think they can say and do what they like to her; she’s not human enough to deserve the kindness and tact that adults do. THESE are the kinds of scenes that I think continue to speak to readers today, as readers can reflect on the times they were treated as less than simply because they were child and not adults.

Montgomery also skillfully conveys “little” issues that loom large to children. For instance, Anne has always hankered after the “puffed sleeves” that are in fashion in her day, but Marilla insists in dressing her in plain, sensible clothes. Anne is fairly good-natured about this and mostly limits herself to wistfully wishing for a more fashionable dress, but the feeling of wanting trendier clothing that one’s family can’t afford or one’s parents simply will not buy is relatable. (And Montgomery takes the theme even farther in Emily of New Moon, when Emily’s aunts force her to wear out-of-date and overly formal clothing to school, which makes her stand out and get mocked, prompting her to attempt to switch out the garments for something else on the way to school. I don’t know about other people, but I have vivid memories of being forced to wear ridiculous clothing by my parents because they thought it was the correct thing for the occasion, when it certainly was NOT. I can never read this scene without having flashbacks to some of the horrid, ridicule-inviting things I was forced to wear.)

These are the moments I think speak to readers today, Anne’s experience as a child and how that’s filled with innocence and wonder and possibility but also mistakes and punishments and bullying and disdain from some adults. I always say the book isn’t really about anything; it’s just about Anne’s life. But that’s what makes it inviting and timeless, what lets us see the little moments of our own lives in the little moments of Anne’s.

3 Classics I Always Recommend (Classic Remarks)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

What classic works do you always recommend?

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables has long been one of my favorite books, since I first read it when I was 10. I must have read it at least 20 times, and every time I’m struck by just how good it is and how it holds up to each rereading.. Anne is always winningly vivacious and imaginative and sensitive, and the other characters are just as captivating. Montgomery is an expert writer at every step.

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

I love this look at art and identity and the protagonist’s struggle to stay true to himself at the expense of disapproval from his family and community. A lot of Potok’s books touch on learning vs. community acceptance, but I like that this one is so prominently about the nature of art,

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

This is a newer book on my rotation of “books I love to recommend” because I just read it myself last year in 2020. I loved that the book is focused on completely ordinary people – and often their thoughts about that! Pym’s novels have such great voice and some insightful commentary on human nature. I’ve only read two so far, but both were excellent.

Little Women: The First Classic I Remember Loving

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

What is the first classic you remember loving?

I first read Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women when I was around eight or nine, and my love for the story has never waned. Though first published in 1868, the story, centered around the coming-of-age of four sisters, has a timeless quality. Their struggles may be different in nature–feeling out of place at a ball, worrying that they do not have enough money to treat friends to pickled limes–but the scenarios are relatable nonetheless. Who has not worried about fitting in at one point or another? Who has not hoped to impress friends, to find a place where they belong? Little Women takes the everyday moments of a life and imparts to them all the seriousness and the importance they deserve. And reading it, one cannot but help that the story is taking them seriously, too.

Part of what I love so much about Little Women is that it seems very much like the type of book that might not be published today. It has no clear plot, no unusual premise, no quirky adventures. It is, quite simply, the story of a few girls’ lives. They begin as teens and girls, and they end as women. Along they way, they experience the ups and downs of life: schoolgirl crushes, new and lost friendships, family tragedy, the first taste of independence as they strike out on their own. But Alcott makes each of these moments supremely interesting because she is able to enter in to what it means to be a girl, and a girl turning into a woman. Small things that seem unimportant to the old and disillusioned can be immensely important to the young. Alcott remembers those feelings, and she lets readers experience them again, too.

I also love that Alcott presents readers with four distinct personalities in her protagonists, and she shows that each is valued. There is no one right way to be a woman. There is Meg, who at first dreams of becoming of becoming an actress, but finds happiness in marriage and motherhood. Fierce Jo, who longs to become a famous author, to discard traditional gender roles, and to support her family. Gentle Beth, whose kindness makes everyone’s lives a little happier. And vain and ambitious Amy, who must at last recognize that she has no artistic genius, but who finds personal fulfillment nonetheless. Each follows a different path–some entering a profession, some choosing the domestic life, some finding wealth, and some content with poverty. But all are presented as worthy of love and support. The women in this book never compete with one another, never put each other down, never suggest that they all have to be the same way in order to be strong. It is a stunning acceptance of womanhood that many a contemporary novel has failed to achieve.

So why do I keep returning again and again to Little Women, the book that first enchanted me when I was a girl? At first, I simply loved the story and the characters, perhaps without really knowing why. As the years pass, however, I always find something new in Little Women–a nuance in a character I had overlooked, a significance in a passage that needed more life experience for me to see it. The book is one that grows and changes with me. But, even so, it also provides important constants: four girls who are valued for their individuality, and the events of their lives that are taken very seriously, “ordinary” as they are. Little Women still moves me because life itself is moving. And Louisa May Alcott has captured four lives perfectly, with all their heartaches and joys.

What is the first classic you remember loving?

What Periods of Classic Literature Get a Bit Overlooked? (Classic Remarks)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

Is there a period of literature that you think gets overlooked when classics are discussed? Why or why not?

My initial answer to this question is (predictably, if you know me) is:

Medieval literature!

Half the time when I mention medieval literature to people, they don’t even know what time period I am referring to. A lot of people are under the impression that Shakespeare counts as medieval literature and/or that his plays are written in Old English. I told a friend I’d written my thesis on a “medieval romance,” and she genuinely thought I meant something like a Julia Quinn novel. If someone does get the time period correct, they are likely to mention one of only three things: Chaucer, King Arthur, or Robin Hood. Suffice to say, I think medieval literature could grow a bit in popularity among people who aren’t actually medievalists.

And I’ve already written a couple posts about that:

• 5 Reasons to Read Medieval Literature
• 5 Classics from the Middle Ages I Recommend

---

So I’d like to offer a second time period I think is overlooked:

The 17th century!

Seriously, when is the last time you heard someone say they were reading something written in the 17th century. Or that they ever had? (As a full disclaimer, I don’t exactly go around reading texts from this period that frequently myself.)

However, this century offers us some great authors, including:

• John Milton
• Alexander Pope
• Jonathan Swift
• Moliere
• John Dryden

And some Shakespeare.

What do you think? What are some books you’ve read from the Middle Ages or from the 17th century?

Recommend a Diverse Classic: Their Eyes Were Watching God

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

Recommend a Diverse Classic

Zora Neale Hurston was both an author and a folklorist, whose research influenced many of her writings. Her best known novel is perhaps Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), which centers on Janie Crawford and her three marriages. Janie’s tale recounts how she initially was married off to an older man for protection, only to find that he doesn’t love her. She then runs off with another man, who only wants to use her. Finally, she marries for love, but again finds her relationship with her husband to be unstable. Through her three marriages, Janie (and Hurston) explore the gender roles and the expectations society places on women.

Though published in the 1930s, Their Eyes Were Watching God still feels incredibly relevant. The issues it grapples with, from domestic violence to the role of men and women in marriage are issues that society continues to grapple with. In many ways, the novel feels a bit ahead of its time, with Janie seeking love and self-fulfillment, while being open to her own sexuality, in the face of a disapproving society. The book, however, presents no easy answers. While Janie’s third marriage appears to be her happiest, because her husband Tea Cake sees her as more of an equal than her previous two husbands, the novel also suggests that Janie is not fully realized as an independent woman until after Tea Cake’s death. In this way, Their Eyes Were Watching God illustrates an intriguing tension that many readers may find relatable. Janie wants to find her identity in a happy marriage, but, if she cannot be seen as an equal to men, she may ultimately not be able to do so. She wants both love and respect, but can women truly have it all?

Their Eyes Were Watching God is a powerful novel by a talented author–one whose work was not always appreciated in her own time. If you have not read it yet, maybe now is the time to give it a try.

Why Shakespeare Remains Relevant Today (Classic Remarks)

WHAT IS CLASSIC REMARKS?

Classic Remarks is a meme hosted here at Pages Unbound that poses questions each Friday about classic literature and asks participants to engage in ongoing discussions surrounding not only themes in the novels but also questions about canon formation, the “timelessness” of literature, and modes of interpretation.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?

Leave your link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. And feel free to comment with your thoughts even if you are not officially participating with a full post!

You can find more information and the list of weekly prompts here.

(Readers who like past prompts but missed them have also answered them on their blog later and linked back to us at Pages Unbound, so feel free to do that, too!)

THIS WEEK’S PROMPT:

What relevance does Shakespeare have today?

When I consider the sheer range of Shakespeare’s plays, the question for me becomes, “How could Shakespeare not continue to have relevance today?” His works deal with everything from relatable emotions such as unrequited love, social rejection, grief for the loss of a loved one, and the thrill of young love to deep questions about the nature of power, authority, and government. His plays contain meditations on topics such as gender and sexuality, and marriage and fidelity. They engage with religion, prejudice, politics, art, and history. Readers and playgoers looking for something in Shakespeare will very likely find it. And all these things continue to interest and influence people today.

Perhaps what continues to make Shakespeare extremely relevant, however, is precisely what kept him relevant in his own day. In his work A Year in the Life of Shakespeare, James Shapiro notes that Shakespeare’s plays tend to be extremely ambiguous. Interpretations of his works as both pro-government and anti-government both work. Interpretations of Shakespeare as Catholic, Protestant, and atheist all work. No matter what side of an argument one is on, one is likely to find evidence for that stance in the plays. Shapiro suggests that this helped Shakespeare navigate an extremely fraught political and historical moment because it meant he both avoided alienating playgoers with opposing views and because he avoided offending the government, who controlled and reacted to what was shown on stage. However, this extreme ambiguity is also what makes Shakespeare so topical today.

Other writers sometimes show their age by espousing views that modern audiences no longer agree with or accept. However, because Shakespeare never shows his hand, it is not entirely possible to label him as outdated. In his plays where the women cross dress and homoerotic relationships are hinted at, but the women ultimately reveal their identities as women, is Shakespeare endorsing same-sex love or not? In plays where kings are said to be the anointed ones of God, but are shown to be wicked, is Shakespeare endorsing monarchy or not? In plays where Shakespeare seems sympathetic to outsiders, but never fully brings them into the fold of society, is Shakespeare being progressive–or not? Shakespeare always walks a tight line, where audiences could convincingly argue either side, meaning that people from his own day to our own have continued to refer to him as an authority for their political stances.

James Shapiro’s book Shakespeare in a Divided America chronicles some of the fascinating ways in which artists and politicians have used Shakespeare throughout the years to further their own political agendas, to respond their historical moment, or to try to make sense of their culture. Through a few case studies, he reveals how Shakespeare has revealed everything from Americans’ discomfort with race to their views on matrimony to their understanding of government and authority figures. His book ends with an exploration of the infamous 2017 production of Julius Caesar by Shakespeare in the Park, which depicted a Trump-like Julius Caesar. Audiences were divided over the play was endorsing assassination or condemning it–an ambiguity the play also had when it was first staged in 1599. The outcry over the production illustrates just how much Shakespeare continues to speak to us, because the topics he deals with are ones that continue to engage and trouble us today. In the words of Ben Jonson, Shakespeare was “not of an age, but for all time.”