/lit/ - Literature

why is so much of literature so miserable and depressing? is it because writers generally sad people?

just looking at required reading "classics" in high school and literally none of them are positive

grapes of wrath - boo hoo these poor people suffer every day

old man and the sea - boo hoo the old man worked so hard but then the sharks ate the fish

1984 - in the future the government will torture people and brainwash them

catcher in the rye - literally just an emo kid moping around

hamlet - literally everyone kills each other/dies

are there any "great" books that aren't just depressing and tragic? honestly the only non-depressing book we had to read was huckleberry finn, and it was the hokiest nonsense.

what are some good books that are actually inspiring?