By Eugenia Manolidou
The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded each year to an author whose work has made a profound contribution to literature, encompassing writings that deeply resonate with readers and offer new perspectives on the human experience. Recently, the Swedish Academy honored Han Kang, a writer from South Korea, for her “intensely poetic prose that confronts historical trauma and exposes the fragility of human life.” Her award draws attention to the richness of her work, which combines sensitivity with narrative power, exploring the depths of human emotion and identity.
Among Han Kang’s works, the book Greek Lessons (2011) has come to the forefront again following her award. In this collection, the protagonist, a woman who loses her ability to speak, turns to Ancient Greek lessons in the hope of reclaiming her voice. Han’s choice to use Ancient Greek as the medium for her character’s journey toward restored communication is especially significant, as it underscores the universal relevance of the Greek language. In this story, it gains new meaning: through its wisdom and spirituality, it becomes a path to personal rebirth – a journey not only for the heroine but for anyone seeking to rediscover their voice in a complex world.
It is remarkable that a Korean author would place such importance on the Ancient Greek language, once again revealing its global influence. Han’s choice to feature Ancient Greek in Greek Lessons reflects the deep respect and appreciation countries like Korea, China, and Japan hold for Greek language and culture. Despite their geographic distance from Greece, these countries are home to many who study and admire Ancient Greek, as its values continue to shape their intellectual and cultural thought.
The Greek language, a carrier of values and a heritage shaped over millennia, is a part of the world’s cultural legacy – an “eternal possession” (κτῆμα ἐς ἀεί) for which we Greeks are the natural heirs. As Odysseas Elytis, Nobel Laureate in Literature in 1979, wrote, “If language were merely a means of communication, there would be no issue… Language acquires, over the length of centuries, a certain ethos. And that ethos generates obligations.” This ethos is a legacy that, whether we accept it or not, continues to exist. By assuming this responsibility with respect and love, we honor our language as a driving force of spirit, science, and culture, connecting us to our roots and guiding us further along an infinite “Greek lesson,” where every word and every idea forms a link in the chain that connects us to one of the greatest civilizations in the world – our own.