Classic and Contemporary Text Pairings by Theme

This is the third and final installment on classic and contemporary text pairing. The first post matched up contemporary and classic texts by plot and the second by character. This last post matches old with new books based on theme. I hope you enjoy!

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Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Both Romeo and Juliet and The Fault in Our Stars explore themes of young love and the intensity of emotions that come with it. In each story, the protagonists face significant external obstacles that challenge their relationships. In Romeo and Juliet, the protagonists struggle with a family feud, while The Fault in Our Stars deals with terminal illness. Additionally, both narratives delve into the idea of love as a powerful, transformative force, despite the inevitability of tragedy. The sense of urgency in their love stories highlights the fragility of life, making their moments together even more poignant.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store share themes of community, identity, and resilience in the face of adversity. Both novels highlight the struggles of marginalized characters seeking autonomy. They also highlight a sense of belonging within societies that impose limitations based on race, class, or gender. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie searches for self-empowerment through love and self-discovery. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store portrays a diverse community coming together to protect one another amidst prejudice and hardship. Both works also explore how love, solidarity, and a deep connection to one’s roots can help individuals rise above societal constraints.

Beloved by Toni Morrison and Kindred by Octavia Butler

Beloved and Kindred both explore themes of trauma, memory, and the lasting legacy of slavery. In Beloved, the haunting presence of Sethe’s past manifests as a ghost, Beloved. Beloved is a flesh and blood representation of how the horrors of slavery continue to affect Sethe’s sense of self and motherhood. Similarly, Kindred uses time travel to force Dana into the direct experience of her ancestors’ suffering, connecting past and present in a visceral way. Both novels highlight the deep emotional scars left by enslavement and the complexities of reclaiming identity in the aftermath. Moreover, both works emphasize the importance of confronting history to understand how it shapes personal and collective identities across generations.

Passing by Nella Larson and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Passing and The Vanishing Half both explore themes of racial identity, colorism, and the complexities of “passing” as white in a racially segregated society. In Passing, Clare and Irene grapple with the emotional and social consequences of concealing their Black heritage. Their choices reflect the fluidity and danger of crossing racial boundaries. The Vanishing Half follows the Vignes sisters. One sister, Stella, passes as white. Her decision fractures family ties and affects personal identity over time, especially with her twin, Desiree. Both novels examine how passing impacts relationships, belonging, and self-perception, revealing the psychological toll of living between two worlds.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Nickel Boys both explore themes of institutional oppression, power dynamics, and the struggle for individual dignity within repressive systems. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, patients in a psychiatric ward endure dehumanizing control under Nurse Ratched. Their struggle under Ratched’s rule symbolizes the crushing force of authority. Likewise, in The Nickel Boys, the boys at a brutal reform school face systemic abuse, where cruelty is masked as discipline. Both novels highlight the psychological and physical toll of living under authoritarian rule. When protagonists resist, they are forced to confront the harsh consequences of defiance.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Brave New World and Never Let Me Go both explore themes of control, dehumanization, and the ethical dilemmas. Each novel is also set in a society driven by technological and scientific advancements. In Brave New World, individuals are conditioned and controlled from birth to maintain a stable, yet soulless society. Personal freedom is sacrificed for collective efficiency. In Never Let Me Go, the characters are raised with a predetermined fate as organ donors. They are deprived of true autonomy and treated as mere instruments for the greater good. Both novels question the cost of progress, examining how societal control over individuals can strip away their humanity. Both works delve into the tension between personal agency and the oppressive structures that dictate life from birth to death.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Awakening and The Poet X both explore themes of female self-expression, identity, and the desire for autonomy in the face of societal expectations. In The Awakening, Edna Pontellier struggles with the constraints of traditional gender roles as she seeks personal and sexual freedom. Her choices challenge the limitations placed on her as a wife and mother. Similarly, The Poet X follows Xiomara as she navigates her cultural and familial pressures. Xiomara, nicknamed X, uses poetry to assert her voice and claim her independence. Both protagonists experience inner awakenings as they defy the norms imposed on them, seeking to live authentically. Likewise, both novels highlight the tension between self-discovery and the restrictive roles society assigns to women.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Secret History both explore themes of moral corruption, aestheticism, and the consequences of living outside conventional ethical boundaries. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian’s pursuit of beauty and pleasure leads him down a path of depravity. By trading his soul for beauty, his outward appearance remains flawless while his soul deteriorates. Similarly, in The Secret History, a group of elite students becomes obsessed with intellectual and aesthetic ideals. Their choices ultimately lead to murder and the unraveling of their moral compass. Both novels examine how the pursuit of beauty and knowledge, unchecked by morality, can lead to self-destruction. Despite their difference in composition years, together these books depict the dark consequences of a life driven by hedonism and the denial of moral responsibility.

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road and Heart of Darkness share themes of moral decay, the thin line between civilization and savagery, and the existential struggle for survival in a hostile world. In The Road, the post-apocalyptic landscape strips away societal structures, leaving the protagonists to navigate a world where humanity has descended into brutality and violence. Similarly, Heart of Darkness explores the darkness within human nature. Marlow witnesses the collapse of moral order in the Congo, where imperialism and greed lead to horrific acts. Both works question whether hope, compassion, and morality can survive in environments where chaos and cruelty reign. Each novel exposes humanity’s basest instincts, challenging notions of what it means to be civilized.

To read the other posts in this series, click on the images below!