In literary criticism, modern readings of classic texts that criticise the work from a modern understanding of morality are sometimes seen as an unimportant and futile endeavor. It is taken for granted that, for example, Charlotte Brontë, as a woman living in the 19th century, would have views on race that do not align with our current ones. Yet I believe it is incredibly important that we do view these works through a modern lens, as following literary criticism throughout different era's of society gives us a better understanding of societal morality, and important reminders of how far we have come. Going further with the example of Charlotte Brontë's work, we can use Jane Eyre as evidence of this. The novel is heralded by many as an important piece of feminist literature, that stood against patriarchal standards that were the norm during its time of publication. And yet looking at it through a modern lens, it can be argued that whilst it certainly does revolt against societal sexism, it contains passages that perpetuate racist stereotypes. Throughout the text, Brontë repeatedly uses racial language to describe both the oppressed (such as the problematic description of Bertha Rochester, a racially ambiguous character, as having "swelled" and "dark" lips) and the oppressor (such as describing Blanche Ingram, one of Jane's rivals, as being as "dark as a Spaniard") [1]. Literary critic Susan L. Meyer argues that 'by using dark-skinned peoples to signify not only the oppressed but also the oppressor, Brontë dramatically empties the signifier of dark skin in her novel of any of its meaning in historical reality, and makes it merely expressive of "otherness" .' [2] Meyer is looking at Brontë's work through a somewhat modern (1990) lens, and in doing so finds Jane Eyre's brand of feminism to be an entirely white-focused one. Brontë still seems to exhibit the colonial anxieties of her time that saw anyone who wasn't white as having within them a certain savagery and otherness. To this day, feminism is still criticised as being racist, focusing its efforts on uplifting white women, whilst ignoring the often worse treatment of black women. It is all too easy to brush away contemporary criticism of classic literature in the assumption that "of course it was racist/sexist/homophobic, it was written years ago". But by viewing it through a modern lens, we force ourselves to consider the world we live in today, and reflect on how much, or how little, we have progressed. REFERENCES Brontë, Charlotte, Jane Eyre (London: Penguin, 1996) [2] Meyer, Susan L, 'Colonialism and the Figurative Strategy of Jane Eyre' in Victorian Studies Vol. 33, No. 2 (Winter 1990), pp. 247 - 268 (p. 261).

You have a really good point about making literary criticisms through a modern lens to show how far we've come, and I think that this is something that could definitely be looked at in secondary school/college English lit classes as well! For example, in GCSE we were often told to bear in mind the context of the time, which is true, but I think it would've been interesting to look more into modern perspectives, maybe even essay questions regarding them, instead of only briefly mentioning it in essays or lessons. This is also because it broadens how we look at a text, bringing in themes and interpretations that wouldn't have been thought of or allowed when the literature was written (e.g. themes of homosexuality in The Great Gatsby), hence arguably opening doors within literature that haven't been opened before, largely exploring and expanding the literary canon.

Literary works survive time and space only if they are reread and discussed through a modern lens. The fascinating changes in time, space and societies add layers of significance, meaning and artistry to the literary work. The latter must continue to be reread and reflected upon to convey the immutable, transcendent qualities of the work and of mankind itself. This is also valid for art. The painting of Guernica, for example, exemplifies this with Ron English’s 2011 Grade School Guernica. Guernica has been reappropriated, readapted and reused to speak of modern contexts and issues like that existing between and within the territories of Palestine and Israel. By linking Pablo Picasso's mythical icons with new ones, English renders a dramatic impact upon the spectator. The artwork has been able to defy and explore the boundaries of time, geographical spaces and happenings which further enriches its socio-historical quality. On the other hand, one should not read or criticise in a way that changes the work’s intentions or purport by labelling it as something that it is not. One cannot claim that a classic literary work is feminist if that is not what it was at the time. It may have some of today’s feminist traits but this does not mean the work was feminist at the time or desired to be marked as such. We must refrain from categorising literary pieces in this manner. It is therefore essential to consider all aspects of the work. Criticising a literary work through a contemporary standpoint is vital to literature and literary genres as their essence resides within their constantly shifting nature. Hence, one must read and criticise through a modern lens while also remaining faithful to the work's intended meaning and cultural context to not make the work seem to be at the core, something that it is not.