By Aya Khalaf | Staff Writer

“Okay, but what is this book’s trope?” is the first question that pops in our heads today when looking into book recommendations. It is the kind of question that would probably make Jane Austen turn in her grave. Do not get me wrong, being curious about the content of the book you will be purchasing is totally valid. However, not when some of these trope titles are phrases like “forced proximity” and “spicy fairytale”. Being a girl myself, I am a huge fan of fairytales like Tinkerbell’s and Cinderella’s, but adding “spicy” now, too?  While it is true that the concept of “tropes” has existed for a while, it definitely did evolve in regard to the terms used. Consequently, the world of fiction has also progressed over the years, jumping from the Emily Bronte-Jane Austen era to the Colleen Hoover-Ana Huang one. In this article, we will be delving into these two eras and looking into the significant contrasts between both worlds. 

When thinking of Emily Bronte, as a reader, you will immediately be taken back into the world of Wuthering Heights where Heathcliff fought every odd against him just to be with the woman he loves. On the other hand, when thinking of Ana Huang, you will immediately remember those unrealistically scripted smut scenes that had every reader’s jaw drop at how bold and inappropriate these statements were. In other words, we went from living in a world where “my love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary” was the standard of an idealistic romantic love confession to “I won’t write you poems or serenade you beneath the moonlight. But you are the only woman I have eyes for. Your enemies are my enemies, your friends are my friends, and if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you” being the new one. 

So, it is safe to argue that the art of confessions and love languages has definitely changed over time. In the classical era, confessions carried a sense of formality and romanticism in which the character is so deeply in love with their partner to the point it pains them beautifully, like saying “it hurts so good.” As for the modern romance books, they come off as bold with a sense of hyperbole, and usually, knowing the character’s personality, they would often actually mean what they’re saying when using the “I would burn the world for you,” rather than exaggerating. 

Hence, you can see the contrast between expressions and descriptions of love declarations in terms of language, tone, and tenderness – where the latter is lacking in modern books. Adding to that, in modern books, the male lead is almost always a persona with an extremely rebellious file, dealing with all kinds of felonies to the point where you could literally write a whole book entirely dedicated to every messed-up crime he has committed. Yet, readers will still romanticize him and wish for a “mafia leader husband” for themselves. Now, as much as we all love being loved by someone who is protective of us and effortlessly makes us safe, we can still want such a person that doesn’t have to go through extreme ends to achieve that sense of safety. 

 In other words, we transitioned from a world that preached the act of sacrifice and defying odds as a way to prove one’s love to another, to a world that romanticizes the idea of violence and crimes followed by a scene of physical intimacy to make it to the “true love” category. 

Moreover, book aesthetics and the experience of being immersed in a book have completely shifted from the time of classic literature to today. Many readers describe the world-building and the time period that the book was written in based on an “aesthetic”, which is often equipped with several pictures that are usually taken off Pinterest for more clarity in which your imagination does its magic when flipping through the pages. 

It would make sense to argue that books of different eras are somehow impacted by the actual time period that the book was written in. For example, if you are reading a book that was written from the 1800’s, you would perhaps imagine Renaissance and Victorian aesthetics, with overly luxurious ballrooms and extremely prominent dukes. And that can perhaps be the case when looking into aesthetics between modern and classic books. However, we cannot deny that we are still reading fiction, so really, it is in the author’s hands to create whatever they would like. This is when one’s imagination comes in handy. So, there are no real restrictions in today’s world-building, in comparison to the classic literature era.

If we put modern literature and classic literature into images, I think we would be getting completely different ones. In classic literature, the world seems like it is the further demonstration of kitsch artwork, with fountains, castles and kingdoms. In modern literature, the world is far more minimalistic and progressive. If you ever look into those TikTok videos that recommend a book through Pinterest pictures claiming them as its “aesthetic”, you would notice that the colour palettes of a modern book are often darker than those of a classic one. This can be justified by the fact that today’s authors write based on what they think the readers might like, regardless of whether it’s appropriate or not. Whereas, during classical eras, authors often used writing books and plays as a way to reflect on social issues recurring during their time period or as a form of expression of one’s emotions and agonies. 

In conclusion, the transition from classical to modern literature underscores the dynamic nature of human expression and storytelling. While these shifts introduce new tropes, styles, and aesthetics, they also provoke questions about the direction of change and its impact on our cultural landscape. Indeed, change is inevitable, but it does not always guarantee progress or improvement. As readers, it is crucial to critically engage with these transformations, discerning between novelty and substance, and preserving an appreciation for the enduring qualities of literature that transcend temporal trends. Amidst the evolution of literary tropes and aesthetics, the timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and human nature persist, serving as anchors in an ever-changing sea of narratives. Thus, while we embrace the diversity and innovation of contemporary literature, we must also remain vigilant guardians of its rich heritage, ensuring that the essence of storytelling continues to resonate across generations.