Top 10: Favorite Classics

Unpopular opinion time: school readings were actually very enjoyable. Now, I know what some of you are probably thinking—that classic novels are hard to understand and that their language doesn't make sense.

On the surface, that would definitely appear to be the case. I mean, for the King of English Literature, Shakespeare sure had a funny idea of what love was (O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?). But for someone like me, classic novels represent artistic writing at its finest.

These old books often hold a special meaning or message that can only be interpreted by those that are willing to look for them. This kind of reading is often called "close reading". Sometimes you must dig deeper into a piece of literature to truly appreciate what the author is trying to portray in their writing.

In high-school and now in college, I have had to perform this kind of reading for multiple books, short stories, and poems. Because of my in-depth readings of these classic stories, I have formed a greater understanding for many of these works. Without further ado, here are my Top 10 Favorite Classic Novels.

10: "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway

Even though "The Old Man and the Sea" is a relatively short novel—less than 130 pages—Hemingway does a great job at portraying feelings in this 1952 novel through the characters of Santiago and Manolin with a limited amount of dialogue. We watch as the Santiago and Manolin's relationship develops throughout the story, and the way they grow from their shared experiences. This "survival of the fittest" novel shows us how to push through defeat and carry on with the help of our friends.

9: "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare

Coming in at number nine is "Hamlet" by good ol' Shakespeare himself. This play was first published in 1603. In this tragedy, Hamlet is a young man that is going through his fair share of troubles. Throughout the story, we watch as Hamlet changes and learns how to deal with his psychological torments—by chasing the murderer of his father. This story of revenge teaches us about human suffering and the uncertainties of life.

8: "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë

This 1847 love story by Emily Brontë is a captivating tale of an interesting relationship. In "Wuthering Heights", we watch as the character that goes by the name "Heathcliff" evolves into multiple different versions of himself. This Gothic romance teaches us not to second guess ourselves and shows us the influence of loneliness.

7: "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." Thus starts one of the most famous beginning sentences in any book. Charles Dickens wrote and published "A Tale of Two Cities" throughout 1859. The moral of this historical novel is represented through the opposites expressed in the first paragraph: life is full of duality. This story of change, vengeance, and danger teaches us about social parallels and the effects of patriotism.

6: "North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South" was published in 1855. This social novel follows Margaret Hale and her adventures in love and life. Margaret's social consciousness and her desire for financial independence leads her to fall for a man by the name of John Thornton, who goes through a dramatic self-revision to earn Margaret's love. This modern v.s. traditional novel teaches us the roles of gender in an evolving world.

5: "Crime and Punishment" by Feodor Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky's 1866 novel, "Crime and Punishment" shows the reader a glimpse into the psychological torment the main character, Rodion Raskol’nikov, as he tries to live his life while hiding an enormous secret: he knows who killed a local pawnbroker, and he will not reveal who her murderer is to anyone—not even to himself. This novel of self-preservation v.s. consciousness teaches us about human nature.

4: "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe

This short story by the mystery author, Edger Allen Poe, was published in 1846. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a story of how the mask of friendship can hide a heart full of revenge. This story follows Montresor and Fortunato as they walk together through the Montresor family's catacombs so that Fortunato can verify the authenticity of a cask of Amontillado that Montresor has acquired. Unfortunately, one of them meets a very different fate than expected. This story teaches us about how betrayal and vengeance can change a friendship forever.

3: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Jane Austen's 1813 "Pride and Prejudice" tells the tale of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy. This English romance novel teaches us about how social status can influence one's prejudice, but that in the end, love conquers all. This book teaches us about inequality and manners, and how first impressions impact a relationship.

2: "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This collection of 12 short stories featuring the well-know detective was published in 1892. As some of my favorite Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Doyle's stories contain the regaling tales of crimes solved by Sherlock Holes as told by Dr. John Watson. These stories teach us the value of being observant while acknowledging one's weaknesses and fears.

1: "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel, "Jane Eyre" takes the #1 spot on my classics list. This heroine novel follows the orphan Jane Eyre as she looks for love and a family to call her own. Her search eventually leads her to Edward Fairfax Rochester of Thornfield Manor. This story teaches us about the way social positions and gender inequality influence the way we live, but that loving yourself and overcoming your past is an essential part of growing up.

So there you have it: my Top 10 Favorite Classics list. Hopefully classic novels don't seem so daunting to you now that you know that they all have morals within their pages. I hope that this post inspires you to go back and read a favorite classic novel to look for the messages and themes hidden within them.

These stories and what they taught me will stay with me forever—I can't wait to find my next favorite classic story! Feel free to comment what your favorite classic novel is so that I can add it to my reading list if I haven't already read it. I look forward to seeing your suggestions!