I've read 19th-century Russian novels alongside contemporary literary thrillers recently, and I notice a striking difference in how authors handle moral ambiguity. Anna Karenina's choices unfold over 800 pages of social pressure, while a modern protagonist might resolve a similar dilemma in three chapters of internal monologue. Does classic literature truly develop deeper moral reasoning in readers, or are we just nostalgic for longer attention spans? I've taught both to university students and seen genuine engagement with both styles.