For many centuries, the Western Canon of literary works has set a standard for education by presenting the great and outstanding literary works of the past. As multiculturalism and equality thrive in the new millennium, the validity of the seemingly racially and sexually discriminating canon is being questioned. Yet, the works that are contained within the canon are truly undisputable in their greatness. These brilliant works have fueled the imaginations and creativity of many writers in the distant past and the present future alike. If the canon is to be abolished, however, in the name of equality between the genders and multiculturalism, chaos will ensue in the literary world, as the truly groundbreaking and original creations of literature become drowned in an endless sea of works by lesser talents. Thus, instead of destroying the Western Canon, it should be preserved and embraced for the betterment of literature.
             Not a single piece of work included in the Western Canon achieved its greatness only because of the writer's race or gender. Instead, they all include a certain "strangeness" (Bloom 3) and uniqueness that distinguish them from the works by lesser writers. This "strangeness", as described by Harold Bloom, is "a mode of originality that either cannot be assimilated, or that so assimilates us that we cease to see it as strange" (3). When one looks at the various works that earned their canonical status, one easily notices this uncanny "strangeness" achieved by their authors. Take Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude for an example. Marquez's successful blending of comedy, pathos, myths, fantasy, and ironic satire make him undoubtedly one of the greatest writers of our time. The enchanting world of imagery that he has created is guaranteed to penetrate any reader, especially because of his techniques of making strange ideas feel comfortably ...