It is one of those days when the old world charm of books and period dramas have come to haunt me. Haunt is a wrong word, perhaps. I should rather say I am enchanted with the world of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. I feel the pull generations have felt before me, of the pleasures of classics. Recently, I chanced to watch BBC adaptations of Dicken's and Austen. "Bleak House" haunted me and left me with the sweetness of unselfish life. I was mesmerized with the haughty demeanor of Lady Deadlock and the constancy of Dr Woodhouse. And then I came across BBC's "Pride and Prejudice", 1995 version. All my love for the book returned. I was transferred to a world so, so different from ours. I was enamored by Mr Darcy's attitude and Elizabeth's playfulness. "Sense and Sensibility" pulled at my heart strings. I dug up all the period dramas and kept watching and lost count of time.
I admit that these are not the times when people love classics; it is more the age of Fast and Furious. However, I can't help wondering if we have lost some of the old world charm, the small pleasures, the calmness and serenity, the depth of feeling? I may be a hopeless romantic but seeing period dramas and reading classics make me long for a little more substance in this present world of ours. I fear passions are superficial and not long lasting usually (or at least this is what I see around or we see in movies and television as well as in real life). I believe the quality of integrity and principles do not hold a place in today's world that honors money and beauty more than character. I wish dearly that more people would take the trouble to read not only the present works but the masterpieces of old. Reading opens the mind and takes you to a world different from ours.
These sound like the ravings of a hopeless romantic but believe me, we would all do well to retain some good things from the past :)
Faroha Liaqat
http://avoiceforislam.blogspot.com
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