Countless literary works throughout history have been deemed ‘classics’, but what makes a story a classic? They all have universal appeal. People from all over the world can relate to the theme no matter what time period it is. Classic stories remain timeless because their messages stay constant in today’s society. One theme defined in literature is that love doesn’t always have to be perfect. In “Sonnet 130”, the main character says, “I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound.” (Shakespeare 9-10) This piece shows how he still loves her even with her flaws. In today’s society, people want to be with the prettiest or the smartest person, but nobody is perfect. In “Gift of the Magi”, the two protagonists
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In “The Ransom of Red Chief”, the two main characters are greedy for money and decide to kidnap a boy for ransom. “You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands.” (O. Henry 24) The irony ends up being that instead of gaining money, the men are so scared of the boy that they pay the father to take his son back. The message of the story could be interpreted as thinking before you act. In “The Lady or the Tiger?”, a princess is in love with a handsome young man, but her father makes him either be wed to another lady or be mauled by a vicious tiger. “This was the king’s semi-barbaric method of administering justice.” (Stockton 2) Both the princess and her lover know what would happen if the king found out about them, yet they stay together. The lesson learned can be that you should always weigh your options and look at the whole situation before acting upon something. Nowadays, people jump into things too quickly and not think, resulting in them making a poor decision with negative outcomes. In “The Monkey’s Paw”, three wishes are granted to the owner of the paw, but things take a sharp turn for the worst. “If you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens.” (Jacobs 2) Morris warned the couple not to use the paw, but they do not listen, resulting in their son dying from a wish they make. If people act too spontaneous or impulsive, something bad may happen. A cause always has an effect, whether positive or negative. Actions have
In “The Ransom of Red Chief”, the two main characters are greedy for money and decide to kidnap a boy for ransom. “You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands.” (O. Henry 24) The irony ends up being that instead of gaining money, the men are so scared of the boy that they pay the father to take his son back. The message of the story could be interpreted as thinking before you act. In “The Lady or the Tiger?”, a princess is in love with a handsome young man, but her father makes him either be wed to another lady or be mauled by a vicious tiger. “This was the king’s semi-barbaric method of administering justice.” (Stockton 2) Both the princess and her lover know what would happen if the king found out about them, yet they stay together. The lesson learned can be that you should always weigh your options and look at the whole situation before acting upon something. Nowadays, people jump into things too quickly and not think, resulting in them making a poor decision with negative outcomes. In “The Monkey’s Paw”, three wishes are granted to the owner of the paw, but things take a sharp turn for the worst. “If you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens.” (Jacobs 2) Morris warned the couple not to use the paw, but they do not listen, resulting in their son dying from a wish they make. If people act too spontaneous or impulsive, something bad may happen. A cause always has an effect, whether positive or negative. Actions have