Classic Literature Defined Through Ethan Frome and To Kill a Mockingbird
Classic literature is considered classic because it contains veryspecific elements. One critical element literature must possess to beconsidered classic is that it be a timeless story. Classic literaturesurvives because it can be enjoyed and understood by readers from anygeneration. Another element of classic literature that is crucial to itssurvival is an important theme. Classic stories survive because they havea moral or they observe society and make a statement about the humanexperience. Themes are very important in classic literature as well.Themes in classic literature are usually universal--they are stories towhich we all can relate. Classic literature also possesses the ability tocommunicate across cultures. Based on that understanding, this paper willexamine the qualities that make Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, and To KillA Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, examples of classic literature. Ethan Frome fits this definition because it depicts the theme of humantragedy in the form of losing one's hopes and dreams. Ethan Frome's lifeis a reflection of his failure to succeed. Through Ethan, Whartondemonstrates how loneliness and hopelessness lead to a sense of depression
Through issues of prejudice and goodversus evil, the children can come to understand why some people behave theway that they do. We learn from Ethan that we shouldnot allow ourselves to become victims and that we should not give upwithout a fight. This idea isreinforced when Scout says, "Atticus was right. Zeena replies thatMattie was, "A pauper that's hung onto us all after her father'd done hisbest to ruin us. To Kill A Mockingbird reflects an optimistic hope inmankind. Perhaps the greatest lesson to belearned from To Kill a Mockingbird is that of sympathy and understanding. Ethan Frome is a reflection on theheaviness of life; the story illustrates what can become of an individualif he or she becomes tangled in the sad realities of life instead offocusing on what is good. What welearn from this novel is how we should always try to see individuals forwho they are and not how we (or society) perceive them. Wharton is making a commentary on thepower of sadness and depression, which is that it can kill a person. Their themes are solid and realistic, theyspeak across cultural lines, and they cover topics and characters that aretimeless. In addition, Scoutcomes to understand some of the complexities of life when she tellsAtticus, "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it'"(Lee 276). Harper Lee expounds on a theme that encourages understanding of self andothers in To Kill A Mockingbird. This becomes apparent when he felt as though he was"a prisoner for life, and now his one ray of light was to be extinguished"(Wharton). So 't we'll never come up anymore"(Wharton).
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