Ambiguity in Literature & Theory

Ambiguity in Literature: Etymology

The word ambiguity in literature comes from the Latin word “ambiguitas,” which means “doubtfulness” or “uncertainty.” The Latin root word “ambigere” means “to be uncertain” or “to doubt.”

Meanings of Ambiguity in Literature and Literary Theory

Aspect of Ambiguity in Literature	Explanation
Multiple Interpretations	Texts, characters, or events with multiple possible understandings, leading to diverse interpretations.
Intentional Language Use	Deliberate use of language with multiple meanings to enhance complexity and depth within a text.
Challenging Conventions	Using ambiguity in literature to challenge or subvert traditional literary norms and cultural assumptions.
Reader’s Perspective	The role of ambiguity in shaping the reader’s interpretation and influencing the derived meaning from the text.
Exploration of Themes	Utilizing ambiguity to delve into intricate themes such as identity, power, or morality.
Literary Device Interaction	The interplay between ambiguity and other literary devices, including irony, metaphor, or symbolism.
Creating Suspense	Utilizing ambiguity to generate tension and suspense by leaving readers uncertain about the true meaning of a situation or event.
Interpretation and Analysis	The significance of ambiguity in literature in the interpretation and analysis of literature, and how readers and critics engage with ambiguous texts.

Explanation of Ambiguity in Literary Theories

Ambiguity also plays a significant role in other literary theories, such as:

Literary Theory	Description
Postmodernism	Postmodern literary theory emphasizes the ambiguous nature of language and meaning. It highlights how texts resist straightforward interpretation and fixed meaning. Ambiguity is seen as a central feature of postmodern literature, challenging traditional literary conventions and cultural norms.
Reader-response theory	Reader-response theory emphasizes the reader’s role in interpreting and creating meaning in a text. Ambiguity is viewed as a key factor in shaping the reader’s understanding. The reader’s experiences and perspectives significantly contribute to the meaning they derive from a text, with ambiguity encouraging active engagement and interpretation.
Deconstruction	Deconstruction is a critical approach that uncovers underlying assumptions and contradictions in a text. It uses ambiguity to expose these tensions, emphasizing the inherent instability of language and the potential for multiple interpretations. Ambiguity in literature reveals the complexity and multiplicity of meaning within a text.
Feminist theory	Feminist literary theory explores the construction and reinforcement of gender roles and stereotypes through language and representation. Ambiguity plays a role in challenging traditional gender norms and expectations. It is used to explore the complexity and diversity of human experiences and identities.

Ambiguity as a Literary Device

• Ambiguity is a literary device that creates multiple possible meanings or interpretations of a text, often through the use of language that is intentionally vague or unclear.
• It can be used to add complexity to a text, to reflect the uncertainty and complexity of real life, and to encourage readers to engage more deeply with the text.
• Ambiguity can take many forms, including:
  • Double meanings: words or phrases that can be interpreted in more than one way, such as puns, homonyms, or metaphorical language.Unclear pronouns: using pronouns like “he,” “she,” or “it” without clear referents, leading to ambiguity in meaning.Ambiguous syntax: using sentence structures that can be interpreted in more than one way, such as sentences with multiple possible subjects or verbs.Open endings: endings that leave the reader uncertain about the outcome of the story or the fate of the characters.Multiple narrators: IT means using multiple narrators with conflicting or incomplete perspectives, leading to showing ambiguity in literature and uncertainty about the truth of events.
  • Symbolism: using symbols that have multiple possible interpretations, leading to showing ambiguity in literature in the meaning of the text.

Examples of Ambiguity in Literature

Literary Work	Literary Theory	Description
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot	Modernism	The poem utilizes ambiguity to mirror the fragmented and uncertain nature of modern life. The speaker’s internal monologue is filled with conflicting and elusive images, creating disorientation and alienation. Lines like “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?” and “In the room, the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo” challenge fixed meanings and reader assumptions, aligning with the hallmark of modernist literature, which aimed to break from tradition and capture the complexities of the modern world.
Beloved by Toni Morrison	Feminist Theory	The novel employs ambiguity to explore motherhood, race, and identity complexities. Sethe is portrayed ambiguously as both a victim and perpetrator of violence, challenging traditional notions of femininity and motherhood. The novel’s title, Beloved, has dual interpretations, referring to both a literal ghost and the psychological burden of slavery. This ambiguity allows exploration of how women navigate oppressive societal structures and the enduring impact of the past on the present.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman	Reader-Response Theory	The story shows the use of ambiguity in literature to engage and encourage interpretation by the reader. An unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending leave the reader uncertain about the protagonist’s madness and overall meaning. The protagonist’s ambiguous relationship with the wallpaper allows for multiple interpretations, such as a symbol of her oppression or a reflection of her mental state. Ambiguity challenges traditional gender roles and highlights power dynamics in marriage and medicine.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	Postmodernism	The novel utilizes ambiguity in literature to challenge the American Dream and traditional narrative structures. Enigmatic and multi-dimensional characters, along with a fragmented, non-linear plot, reflect the elusive nature of the Dream. The ambiguous ending, leaving Gatsby’s dream and Daisy’s feelings unresolved, permits multiple interpretations and challenges readers’ assumptions about love, wealth, and success in America.
“Hamlet” by William Shakespeare	Deconstruction	The play employs ambiguity in literature to reveal contradictions and tensions in language and meaning. Hamlet’s character is replete with paradoxes and ambivalences, challenging the traditional hero archetype. The ambiguous ending leaves readers uncertain about the story’s true interpretation. For instance, Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be, or not to be” contains multiple ambiguities, questioning the meaning of “being” and the implications of “not being.” Ambiguity deconstructs language and meaning hierarchies and exposes underlying contradictions in human experience.

Suggesting Readings

1. Empson, William. Seven Types of Ambiguity. New Directions, 2004.
2. Genette, Gérard. Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press, 1983.
3. Lodge, David. The Art of Fiction. Penguin, 1992.
4. Prince, Gerald. Dictionary of Narratology. University of Nebraska Press, 1987.
5. Ricœur, Paul. The Rule of Metaphor: Multi-disciplinary Studies in the Creation of Meaning in Language. Routledge, 2004.
6. Shklovsky, Viktor. Theory of Prose. Dalkey Archive Press, 1991.
7. Warhol, Robyn R., and Diane Price Herndl (Eds.). Feminisms: An Anthology of Literary Theory and Criticism. Rutgers University Press, 1997.
8. Wolf, Werner (Ed.). Metareference across Media: Theory and Case Studies. University of Michigan Press, 2009.