Italo Calvino once said, "A classic becomes a classic because it has withstood the test of history, remaining timeless; and because it is the summation of centuries of history, it remains fresh with every reading."
Reading classics is a dialogue across time and space, with the masters, and even more so, with ourselves.
Reading the same book at different stages of life yields different insights. They are like the sun, radiating a thousand rays, illuminating our growth.
"War and Peace"
Introduction
In 1812, Russia and France were at war again. Andrei Bolkonsky was seriously wounded in the battle, and the Russian army was losing ground. Moscow was on the verge of falling to the enemy. Rostov repurposed the carriage originally used to transport his belongings to transport the wounded, allowing Natasha to discover the dying Andrei Bolkonsky among the wounded. She apologized and devotedly cared for him, but it was all in vain; Andrei Bolkonsky still met his end. Disguised as a peasant, Pierre attempted to assassinate Napoleon, but was captured by the French army and taken prisoner. His beloved wife, Helen, continued her promiscuous behavior amidst the war, ultimately dying after accidentally taking an abortifacient. After several battles, Russia finally triumphed. Pierre met Natasha in Moscow, and they married. Andrei Bolkonsky's sister, Maria, also married Natasha's brother, Nikolay.
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
Introduction
The ugly, deaf Quasimodo is adopted by Claude, the priest of Notre Dame, as the bell ringer. After meeting the beautiful gypsy girl La Esmeralda, the seemingly demure Claude becomes captivated by her beauty and orders Quasimodo to abduct her. On the way, they are rescued by Captain Phoebus, a cavalry captain. Esmeralda then falls in love with Phoebus. However, Phoebus, a philandering man, is assassinated by the resentful Claude, but survives. He frames Esmeralda and sentences her to death. When the execution is about to begin, Quasimodo rescues Esmeralda and hides her in Notre Dame. Beggars rush into the church to save her, mistakenly engaging in a fight with Quasimodo. Esmeralda is strangled in the square by Claude's troops. Angrily, Quasimodo pushes Claude from the church roof and then dies by caressing Esmeralda's body.
"Childhood"
Introduction
The story tells of the young protagonist, Alyosha Gorky, who, after his father's death, lives with his mother in his maternal grandfather's home. During this time, he receives his grandmother's love and care, and is nurtured by her beautiful fairy tales. He also witnesses his two uncles bickering over the family fortune, as well as the selfishness and greed displayed in the mundane details of life. Gorky (Alyosha) spends his childhood in this "suffocating, horrifically narrow world."
"Wuthering Heights"
Introduction
A man who loves to the extreme commits a mad act. He uses "love" to kill, but also uses it to commit suicide. He lives in agony both during Catherine's life and after her death. Even in her final moments, he hurts her with his words. However, Heathcliff endures two pains: his own and Catherine's. I admire men who love in this way. Although he may be a bit perverted and cruel, I can't hate him. I feel quite sympathetic towards him. She was even deeply moved by his mad love. In contrast, Catherine was far too selfish. She loved Heathcliff and married the wealthy Linton. It could be said that she personally created a large part of the tragedy of Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff was crazy, but charming, and certainly a good husband. He was just a little foolish. Catherine: She was evil, selfish, but her dedication to love gave her a charm that blended both good and bad.
"David Copperfield"
Introduction
"David Copperfield" reveals the true face of contemporary society through the joys and sorrows of the protagonist David's life, highlighting the corrosive effect of money on marriage, family, and society. A series of tragedies in the novel are all caused by money. Murdstone married David's mother because he coveted her wealth; Emily eloped because she couldn't resist the temptation of money; the suffering of the Wickfield family and Ham's despair were all the evil consequences of money. The despicable Heep also fell into depravity step by step under the temptation of money, and finally ended up with a shameful life imprisonment. It was from the humanitarian perspective that Dickens exposed the evil of money, thus unveiling the beautiful curtain of the "Victorian heyday" and revealing the social truth hidden behind it.
