Finding Solace in the Pages of Classics

December is a time for holiday, cheer and festivities, but for me, last December (2022) was a month of deep despair. I felt trapped in a room with no escape from my own thoughts, unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel. I had no hope in life, feeling like a ship adrift in a sea of sorrow. But it was in that room that I stumbled upon a book - a classic, one that was so full of grief that it spoke directly to my own. And in the pages of that book, I think I began to find solace.

As I turned each page, I felt like I was diving into a well of emotions, immersing myself in the struggles of characters who were grappling with their own demons. I was moved by their stories, by the way they found meaning in their suffering and were able to persevere. I began to see reason in my own suffering, and I realized that I was not alone in my struggles.

One of the books that resonated with me was Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment." The protagonist, Raskolnikov, is a man consumed by guilt, torn between his own beliefs and the reality of his actions. As I read about his journey, I saw myself reflected in him, and I was able to find comfort in the fact that even the greatest minds and strongest individuals can struggle with their emotions.

Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights" also touched my heart, with its tale of love, loss, and longing. The passion and intensity of Heathcliff and Catherine's love was both beautiful and heart-breaking, and I felt like I was transported to the moors of England, experiencing their love story first-hand. This book taught me that love, even in its most extreme forms, can bring both joy and pain, and that it is possible to find peace in the midst of heartache.

Grief can be a powerful wave that threatens to engulf us, leaving us feeling broken and overcome by sorrow. It is a storm that rages within us, one that we cannot escape, no matter how hard we try. But, just like in a storm, there is a way to find calm in the chaos, to navigate through the turbulence and come out on the other side. For me, I think that way is through the classics.

Every time I feel that familiar wave of grief begins to rise within me, I reach for a classic, and I find myself transported to another world, one full of characters who have faced the same struggles that I am facing now. I see their stories unfold before me, and I am reminded that I am not alone in my suffering.

The characters in Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" face war, loss, and heartache, but they also experience love, joy, and triumph. They show me that life is not a linear path, but a journey with its ups and downs. And through it all, they hold onto hope and resilience, reminding me that it is possible to endure and emerge from the storms of life with grace and strength.

Another classic that has helped me navigate the storms of grief is Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." The characters face their own struggles, but they also find love and happiness. Elizabeth Bennet is a strong and independent woman who teaches me that it is possible to overcome adversity and find joy even in the midst of pain. Her story inspires me to keep going, to hold onto hope, and to never give up.

Along with these, I found comfort in the poems of John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Their words are like a warm embrace, reminding me that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty and wonder in the world. Their images of nature, of sunsets and seascapes, bring me a sense of peace, and their words of hope give me the courage to keep going.

From time to time, when I feel that grief returning, I return to these classics, drawing strength and comfort from their pages. I find myself reaching for them, like a sailor reaching for a compass, and I am reminded that I have the tools to navigate through the storms of life. They are my anchor, my safe haven, my refuge in the midst of chaos.

As I delved deeper into these classics, I found myself drawn to their rich language, the vivid imagery, and the timeless themes. They were windows into the human experience, capturing the complexities of the human soul in a way that was both relatable and inspiring. I was struck by the universality of their messages, and I was amazed by how relevant they were even after centuries.

In reading these classics, I was reminded that the human experience is a journey, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. But despite all the hardships, it is possible to find meaning and purpose in life. The characters in these books showed me that it is possible to endure, to find hope even in the darkest of times, and to emerge from suffering with a renewed sense of purpose.

As I closed the last page of each book, I felt like I was gradually emerging from a dark tunnel into the light. I was coming to terms with my own grief, and I was becoming ready to face the world with newfound strength and optimism once again. Reading these classics was like a ray of sunshine, bringing me comfort and hope when I needed it the most.

I would say, classics have the power to heal, to offer solace and comfort in times of distress. They are a reminder that we are not alone in our journey or in our grief, that there have been great women and men before us who have seen the worst and overcome.