6 Classic Novels That Are Still Relevant Today

By Kylie Fife on October 12, 2015

Many people’s (especially students’) first response to the words “classic novel” is cringing and crinkling their nose in disgust.

But contrary to popular belief, many of the classic novels that people seem to fear so much still have a place in today’s world. Whether through plot, characters, or any other aspect, these are six novels that have managed to maintain their relevancy throughout the years.

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1) The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

Dorian Gray is just your average rich and beautiful 19th century socialite who falls in love with his own appearance after he has a portrait painted of himself. He makes a wish for the portrait to age instead of him and unknowingly sells his soul.

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This novel picks up on an essential characteristic in all humans: the need to be perfect, and how society’s high standards worsens this need. It also shines a light on mortality, sexual identity, and the wildness of youth. Just like college, right?

2) Persuasion, Jane Austen

Eight years before the story begins, wallflower Anne Elliot let go of a man that she really loved because he wasn’t up to her standards. Now, at 27, unmarried Anne is way past her prime–at least by Austen standards.

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Suddenly, the man she tossed away all those years ago comes back into the picture and despite what she thought, Anne isn’t actually over the guy. This Austen twist on the typical one-who-got-away tale is a story that lots of girls–and guys–can probably relate to.

3) 1984, George Orwell

What do The Hunger Games, Divergent, and 1984 have in common? They all take place in a screwed up dystopian future.

Image via Scarlett Rugers

Winston Smith lives in Oceania, where the Party controls the population under the watchful eye of Big Brother. The Party prohibits all expressions of individuality and free thought.

Winston, frustrated by the constant control, defies the Party by writing down all of his illegal thoughts in a diary and pursues a prohibited relationship with a woman named Julia–acts that bring both of them into the eye of the Party. Peeta and Katniss have nothing on these two.

4) Wuthering HeightsEmily Bronte

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One day, Catherine Earnshaw’s father brings home a dirty gypsy boy named Heathcliff. He and Catherine become inseparable, but Catherine’s brother Hindley despises Heathcliff for replacing him as the favorite son and tries to destroy Heathcliff.

Another obstacle also stands between Heathcliff and Catherine’s happiness–a wealthy guy named Edgar Linton. Catherine becomes swept away by Edgar’s world, leaving Heathcliff in the dust and with a thirsty need for vengeance.

Plot twists abound in a classic novel full of revenge, broken hearts, and forbidden love–all elements that are still popular today.

5) OthelloWilliam Shakespeare

Like many of Shakespeare’s works, Othello is still poignant in today’s society. Othello is a noble black warrior in the Venetian army married to a wealthy white woman named Desdemona.

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Iago, Othello’s confidant, harbors a secret jealousy and hatred towards Othello for promoting another solider, Cassio, before him and for possibly sleeping with Iago’s wife. Hell-bent on revenge, Iago comes up with a devious plot to destroy Othello. Race and gender play major roles in Othello, bringing up many of the issues that society is still facing today.

6) The Great GastbyF. Scott Fitzgerald

This book has everything—forbidden love, friendship, alcohol, cool cars, and endless parties.

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Jay Gatsby is a young, rich man with a secretive past. He’s still in love with Daisy, a girl he met years ago — but she’s married to someone else. So to get her attention, Gatsby throws what are basically 1920s-era frat  parties.

And eventually, with the help of Daisy’s cousin Nick, he gets the chance to rekindle his and Daisy’s  romance, and the two begin a secret love affair that ends up having dire consequences.

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