Are classics overrated?
Are the classics detached from current society enough to be rendered unnecessary in modern education? From personal beliefs to debates, this question has appeared increasingly in more recent years. One example of a classic found ‘overrated’ is Animal Farm, the allegorical novella by George Orwell.
Animal Farm is set on a farm, where the animals take control of their home from their cruel human farmer, Mr. Jones. However, as the story progresses, the animals and their rules of equality begin to transform into something not so different from what the animals originally rebelled against.
Though Animal Farm has many morals to teach such as the corrosive nature of power, the story was written in a more entertaining light— the variety of characters not only added to the allegory but provided a connection to readers. For example, a hard-working and loyal horse, Boxer, represents a dedicated working class, but he proves to be a character easily loved. For the most part, the animals themselves weren’t human, but their human-like mannerisms give the symbolistic piece elements that allowed readers to relate to the story and captivate the attention of any reader.
At first glance, younger audiences may be attracted to Animal Farm as it lacks an overly complex plot and is short. However, younger readers might not appreciate it as much without having the historical context behind the story. Considering the length of the book, the animals’ characters were able to be explored well, which again helps connect readers to the story.
Some classics can feel untouchable: as if critiquing them in any way or even examining them through a non-analytical lens is something unthinkable. On the other hand, classics can be argued to be simplistic or simply, not entertaining enough. It’s an easy thing to say that as stories become older, they begin to lose their relevance. In spite of this, some of the morals of human nature—or human history, in the case of Animal Farm—continue to teach important lessons.
