Rewriting the classics

cynic

We have discussed tropes. And then there are a spate of books rewriting the classics. Some authors find characters in Pride and Prejudice too "stuck-up" or Jane Eyre too "drab", and have re-written it in modern day context. Or some took it a step further with the vampire-ization of Little Women (the horror, pun intended).

Hollywood and our Bollywood do it all the time. Haider, Omkara, Maqbool, are all Shakespearean plays revisited.

Is it a good idea to take a classic story and rewrite it to suit modern sensibilities? Are people less forgiving when it comes to literature? What about Indian classics (imagine Nirmala walking into the sunset with her stepson)?

Do share your opinion.

soothsayer

#QuiBooks carry just not the plot  but also depict the ethos and thought processes of the times in which they are written-unless somebody attempts to write a classic in the modern times. Therefore, if the classic is reproduced in the modern times, the reader may find it difficult to connect the current version to the old unless specifically told about the effort.Further, every good writer has his/her own style and it is very easy for a good reader to pick up flaws in case there is attempt at imitation. A third reason-the charm of the classic would be lost:so, let the old remain gold. let new stuff be written for today's readers which might appeal to their imagination.coming to the movie version- a book plot converted to movie leads to the  question-which was better-so what to speak of the classic?ck reply here#

soothsayer

Books carry just not the plot  but also depict the ethos and thought processes of the times in which they are written-unless somebody attempts to write a classic in the modern times. Therefore, if the classic is reproduced in the modern times, the reader may find it difficult to connect the current version to the old unless specifically told about the effort.Further, every good writer has his/her own style and it is very easy for a good reader to pick up flaws in case there is attempt at imitation. A third reason-the charm of the classic would be lost:so, let the old remain gold. let new stuff be written for today's readers which might appeal to their imagination.coming to the movie version- a book plot converted to movie leads to the  question-which was better-so what to speak of the classic?

jhsurti

Classics are classics and hence called so. One may re-write them but the re-written tales cannot carry the same perception as the original. A story written in a particular era has relevance to that era. (I remember something like the importance of desh-kaal from my school days). So, if they were to be re-written, they have to take the context of the time for which they'll be re-written. I find nothing wrong in that. The movies mentioned - Omkara, Haider, Maqbool - are all very good examples of the plays re-written to suit the context of the period for which they are re-written.  And they were all a fine work by Vishal Bhardwaj and team. So some changes have to be made in context with the present times. In some cases, though, one simply cannot re-write as the whole concept of the classic dies in the process. Like, if there was a classic depicting the remarriage of a widow, the whole context has almost no meaning today when it is broadly accepted by society. That classic played its part in bringing about the change and has no reason to be rewritten.

cynic

jhsurti 2-6-2018 12:48 PM
Classics are classics and hence called so. One may re-write them but the re-written tales cannot car ...

I agree about the timeless classics and their adaptation. The Shakespearean plays listed are not really time-bound, the stories can apply to any day and age.

Another school of thought says rewriting the classics gets people interested in the original. Thoughts?

viksorion

Why not rewrite them.... With time some plots loose the relevance, the reader can not really connect to it. Why not rewrite it and make it more relevant and contemporary.
But then with it also comes the question of the soul of the book. As long as the soul and message is conveyed well I guess rewriting is going to help pull people to read.
As it is I many a times feel so out of place coz I tend to only one who is a reader among a gathering and none is apologetic about not reading any. this would have been a sacrilege not so long ago may be 10-15 yrs back

cynic

viksorion 3-6-2018 07:59 PM
Why not rewrite them.... With time some plots loose the relevance, the reader can not really connect ...

I completely identify with the last bit. But I feel it is okay not to enjoy reading. There are way too many alternatives now.

What surprises me though is that people have not read the classics. I understand about Hindi classics, since it is rarely the choice for second language. But what about English classics. It was a part of our school and college curriculum. Isn't it anymore?

viksorion

Why, But I am more conversant with Hindi classics and classics of my mother tongue. I happen to start reading the English books much later in my life. Rather they were started due to 1. Peer pressure and 2. English books take longer to finish compared to Hindi or mother tongue. and then I was hooked. The genre I prefer is not really well developed in Indian languages. the spy thrillers that I enjoyed then seems childish when I moved to better well researched English books. Now a days though Indian Authors are doing wonderfully well and are my first choice any given day as we can relate more to the language, culture they portray and characters.
I guess this is a diversion from the thread but thats how I think

b_mayukh

rewriting a classic on today's context is not a bad idea. this can attract newer readers where they can relate, rather than something they cant relate to.

divey

Books and stories represent thoughts and ideas which may remain same across centuries especially in a country like ours like Farmer's plight or the condition of prostitutes or those of other poor sections of the society which have been a central theme in Premchand's classics are still relevant today, despite more than 100 years being passed