What can we learn about a society from the words of its greatest stories? Language doesn’t just convey ideas. It shapes the culture and values of a people. Linguistic anthropologists examine how language in classic stories, like Shakespeare’s plays, The Odyssey, and the Mahabharata, reveals the inner workings of ancient societies. These timeless tales use language to reflect cultural ideals, societal norms, and the human condition.

Linguistic anthropology focuses on how language relates to social life, culture, and power. In classic stories, language is a tool for conveying not just plot but social values, identity, and hierarchy. Shakespeare’s plays, for instance, often used language to express the complexities of power, class, and personal identity. The way characters speak, whether in lofty iambic pentameter or simple prose, reflects their social status, education, and emotional depth.

Similarly, The Odyssey uses language to explore the themes of heroism, loyalty, and the tension between fate and free will. Homer’s use of epithets (e.g., “rosy-fingered dawn”) reveals not only poetic skill but cultural reverence for the gods, the sea, and human struggle.

The Mahabharata takes this further with its intricate dialogue, where the choices of words reveal ethical dilemmas, duty (dharma), and the very fabric of social life in ancient India. The Sanskrit language itself, with its rich system of honorifics and spiritual connotations, reinforces the weight of moral decision-making within the story.

As I read these texts, whether in my classes or in my free time, I started to realize how much the language in these stories reveals about their cultures. In Shakespeare’s plays, for example, the language reflects the rigid class system of Elizabethan England. When characters like Hamlet or Othello speak in formal verse, it sets them apart from lower-class characters who speak in prose. This distinction not only marks social status but also speaks to their internal struggles and the way they navigate the complex world around them. In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ encounters with gods and mortals are portrayed through elevated, poetic language, reflecting the ancient Greek view of fate, honor, and the divine. The way Odysseus interacts with the gods, often with respect but also in a cunning manner, shows the balance of power between humans and the divine, a central theme in Greek culture. Furthermore, dialogue in the Mahabharata often serves as a vehicle for ethical and philosophical debate, with characters weighing their duties as family members, warriors, rulers, and spiritual beings. With spiritual symbolism, characters like Arjuna and Krishna don’t just converse; they engage in profound discourse about justice, destiny, and the soul, offering insight into ancient Indian values and cosmology.

Language is more than a storytelling tool. It’s a mirror, reflecting back the values, beliefs, and power structures of its time. If we read closely, we see that these classic works aren’t just telling stories; they're documenting societies and civilizations. They offer glimpses into how people thought about duty, honor, love, leadership, and even the divine. Whether it’s Shakespeare’s use of verse to signify nobility, Homer’s poetic repetition to honor memory and tradition, or the Mahabharata’s philosophical debates to explore moral dilemmas, I think language in these texts can help encode the DNA of the people and culture in which they were written about. 

I think it is fascinating to read a classic text and take a step back to pay attention to the words, the formality, and the structure of the dialogue. The language used in stories from Shakespeare to the Mahabharata reveals more than just the plot. In fact, it opens a window into the values, beliefs, and social structures of the time. Whether it’s the Shakespearean use of verse to indicate nobility or the intricate moral discussions in the Mahabharata, language is the key to unlocking the culture behind the words.

What does the language in your favorite classic novel reveal about its world? Are there moments when you noticed the way a character speaks showing more than just their personality?

The language of classic stories is more than just a way to tell a tale because it’s a way to understand the culture and society that created it.

By examining how language is used in works like Shakespeare’s plays, The Odyssey, and the Mahabharata, we can gain a deeper understanding of the values and norms that shaped these civilizations. It’s a reminder that words have power. Words do not just tell a story, but define the culture itself at the time it was written.