Literary Devices: Ambiguity
There's Only One Definition
Alix Dufresne, Yahoo Contributor Network
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Dec 19, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo websites. Start Here."
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Literary Devices
Ophelia
One crucial literary device, frequently used in any variety of text, is ambiguity. Usually, when we are reading a work of literature, each word
takes on one meaning, their definition, and each phrase will refer to one specific thing or idea. This makes sense; if every word or phrase
could mean a number of other words or phrases, it would be difficult to know what the author was talking about. Generally, clarity in
literature is important because the goal of literature is to convey a thesis or point, and an author will use language, or sets of words and
phrases, which have clear meanings.
However, while the majority of a piece of literature's text will have words and phrases with obvious meanings, sometimes a few words or
phrases will be less obvious. One reason this may occur is due to ambiguity.
Ambiguity is when one word or idea contains more than one meaning. That is to say, within the context of the specific piece of literature, a
specific word or phrase may make sense if interpreted one way, but may also make sense if thought about in another manner. Both
meanings of the ambiguous word or phrase are correct and are incorporated for a purpose.
Why Use Ambiguity? Ambiguity may be used in literature for a number of reasons. First of all, using ambiguity will give a word or phrase
depth. Shakespeare, a notorious master of ambiguity, sometimes used the literary device to that purpose. For example, consider the
play Hamlet. One of the reasons Hamlet is brilliant is because the play can be interpreted in a number of different ways, which is significant
because one of it's themes was mistakes in communication and subjective reality.
One instance can be seen when Hamlet tells Ophelia "Get thee to a nunnery"; the word "nunnery" is ambiguous because while in addition to
referring to a convent, which is what the word would probably seem to mean to most people, the word could also mean a brothel. Therefore,
the audience is unsure whether Hamlet wishes Ophelia should save her purity or if he is insulting her. Given the context, this ambiguity is
appropriate because Hamlet uses the word "nunnery" during a scene in which it is his intention to confuse and frighten Ophelia. Like with
some other instances of ambiguity, the audience may decide for themselves what they believe Hamlet really means,
Another reason ambiguity is used in literature is for comedic purposes. While it is crucial to the thesis of Hamlet that the characters use
ambiguity, as is seen in the above example with the word "nunnery", words can become amusing if they convey a meaning and an insult
simultaneously. There's no reason for an audience member to insist Hamlet was attempting to insult Ophelia, and thus they are left
wondering if he actually said something rude or not. Dropping subtle insults like this is a strong facet of humor (especially considering that
Shakespeare, or anyone for that matter, may want to keep his plays tasteful).
WORKS CITED
Shakespeare, William, Burton Raffel, and Harold Bloom. Hamlet. New Haven: Yale UP, 2003. Print.
Shakespeare, William, Mary Ellen. Snodgrass. Othello. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., 2008. Print.