“Why Read the Classics?” Assertion

The volume, Why Read the Classics?, by Italo Calvino addresses numerous amounts of definitions for the word “Classics”, as well as provides reasons on why they are important and worth the time of reading. Although Calvino proclaims many statements, the one that is most agreeable is about rereading the most important books from our youth. For example, Mr. Calvino writes, “Even if the books have remained the same (though they do change, in the light of an altered historical perspective), we have most certainly changed, and our encounter will be an entirely new thing.” Mr. Cavino uses this quote to express that although books begin to age as time goes by, they frequently tend to remain the same, unless referring to books discussing historical facts and information. In opposition to this, our perspective profoundly changes, as our character, and we as individuals change and develop, providing a new encounter and interpretation after rereading a book. In Mr. Calvino’s third definition of a Classic, he states that, “The classics are books that exert a peculiar influence, both when they refuse to be eradicated from the mind and when they conceal themselves in the folds of memory, camouflaging themselves as the collective or individual unconscious.” Within this definition, Mr. Calvino is referring to the idea that the Classics are books that provide a specific type of influence, one that remains in the mind of an individual, no longer becoming a reading, but rather a memory, intertwining with the unconscious mind of an individual. This supports the importance of rereading a book from youth, as rereading allows one to collect additional information and expressions, becoming a part of memory. The more a Classic is read, the more knowledge will be received unconsciously, as well as used. To conclude, Mr. Calvino’s statement from Why Read the Classics?, includes a statement that describes the importance of revisiting and rereading a book from our youth. This statement is important as it is something that must be considered by all individuals, especially those that are more mature and have read specific Classics during their youth that must be revisited to obtain additional and beneficial knowledge.