Cherry Picking in Literature: Introduction
Cherry picking in literature, an important rhetorical device, finds its nuanced application where authors deliberately select and present specific details, events, or characters to shape narrative perspectives and influence reader interpretation. Literary cherry picking extends beyond mere narrative choices and entails a purposeful curation of elements to evoke desired emotions, establish thematic motifs, or underscore underlying messages. Authors wield this literary device to craft a deliberate, often subjective, portrayal of their fictional worlds, selectively emphasizing certain facets while strategically neglecting others. This artful manipulation of narrative elements allows for the construction of compelling narratives that resonate with readers, offering a glimpse into the deliberate choices writers make to convey meaning and provoke particular responses within the literary landscape.
Cherry Picking in Literature: Shakespearean Examples
- “Hamlet” – Selective Madness: In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” the protagonist feigns madness, using selective behavior and speech to manipulate those around him. Hamlet strategically chooses when to appear mad, creating ambiguity about his true mental state and leading characters, and readers, to question the authenticity of his madness.
- “Othello” – Selective Trust: In “Othello,” Iago selectively provides information to Othello, omitting crucial details and manipulating perceptions to stoke jealousy and suspicion. By cherry-picking facts, Iago masterfully engineers Othello’s tragic downfall.
- “Macbeth” – Selective Ambition: The character of Macbeth in the play “Macbeth” selectively embraces ambition, choosing to heed the prophecies that align with his aspirations while disregarding warnings that could deter him from the path of ruthless power-seeking.
- “Romeo and Juliet” – Selective Loyalties: In the tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” the titular characters selectively prioritize their love over loyalty to their feuding families, leading to a series of tragic events. Their selective allegiance to each other contributes to the ultimate tragedy of the play.
- “Julius Caesar” – Selective Persuasion: In “Julius Caesar,” Cassius selectively appeals to Brutus’s sense of honor and patriotism while omitting the potential negative consequences of their plot against Caesar. Cassius’s cherry-picked arguments influence Brutus’s decision to join the conspiracy.
- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – Selective Perception: Shakespeare employs the theme of selective perception in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where characters experience magical illusions that influence their romantic entanglements. This selective perception adds layers of comedic confusion to the play.
Cherry Picking in Literature: Examples
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Colombia):
- Cherry Picked Element: Magical realism
- Context: The story blends fantastical elements with mundane reality. If one were to only focus on the magical realism without considering the deeper social commentary, they might miss the critique of human nature and society.
- Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (Czech Republic):
- Cherry Picked Element: Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a giant insect
- Context: The story is often analyzed for its existential themes, exploring alienation and the absurdity of human existence. Cherry picking the insect transformation might oversimplify the profound philosophical aspects.
- Rumi’s Poetry (Persian):
- Cherry Picked Element: Romantic verses
- Context: Rumi’s poetry encompasses a wide range of themes, including spirituality, mysticism, and the nature of existence. Focusing solely on romantic verses might neglect the spiritual depth and philosophical insights present in his work.
- Lu Xun’s “Diary of a Madman” (China):
- Cherry Picked Element: Allegory of cannibalism
- Context: The story is a critique of traditional Chinese culture and its oppressive nature. Cherry picking the cannibalism theme without understanding its allegorical significance may miss the broader commentary on societal ills.
- Pablo Neruda’s Poetry (Chile):
- Cherry Picked Element: Love poems
- Context: Neruda’s poetry spans a wide range of themes, including politics, nature, and existential reflections. Focusing solely on love poems might overlook his contributions to social and political discourse.
- Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore” (Japan):
- Cherry Picked Element: Surrealistic and dreamlike sequences
- Context: Murakami’s work often explores the human psyche and existential questions. Cherry picking the surreal elements might miss the psychological depth and the interplay between reality and fantasy.
- Octavio Paz’s Poetry (Mexico):
- Cherry Picked Element: Sensual and erotic imagery
- Context: Paz’s poetry delves into existential questions, cultural identity, and the nature of language. Focusing only on the sensual aspects might overlook the philosophical and intellectual dimensions of his work.
In each case, it’s essential to consider the broader context of the literary work to fully appreciate its richness and depth. Cherry picking specific elements can lead to a superficial understanding and miss the intended nuances and complexities of the text.
Cherry Picking in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Cherry Picked Element | Relevance in Theory |
| Formalism | Symbolism in a poem’s imagery | Formalism focuses on the intrinsic structure of a work, so cherry picking symbols aids in structural analysis. |
| Structuralism | Specific recurring motifs in a novel | Identifying and isolating certain motifs helps reveal underlying structures and patterns in the narrative. |
| Feminist Criticism | Female characters’ dialogues in a play | Analyzing specific dialogues sheds light on gender dynamics and power relations, crucial in feminist critique. |
| Marxist Criticism | Instances of class struggle in a novel | Cherry picking examples of class conflict helps illuminate the text’s reflection of societal power imbalances and economic structures. |
| Postcolonial Criticism | Representations of colonial oppression | Focusing on specific instances of colonial oppression aids in uncovering the text’s relationship with postcolonial contexts and power dynamics. |
| Psychoanalytic Criticism | Dreams and unconscious desires in a story | Examining cherry-picked dream sequences or symbols contributes to understanding the characters’ subconscious motivations and conflicts. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Individual reader’s emotional response | Cherry picking specific emotional reactions helps illustrate the theory’s emphasis on the subjective, personal interpretation of a text. |
It’s important to note that these literary theories are not mutually exclusive, and elements of each may be present in various works. Cherry picking allows scholars to highlight and emphasize specific elements relevant to their chosen theoretical framework while potentially overlooking other facets of the text. A comprehensive analysis often considers multiple theories to provide a well-rounded interpretation.
Cherry Picking in Literature: Relevant Terms
- Metaphor: Direct comparison between two unlike things for symbolic meaning.
- Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality, often for humor or emphasis.
- Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
- Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
- Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
- Oxymoron: Combining contradictory terms for a paradoxical effect.
- Euphemism: Substituting a mild or less direct word or phrase for one considered harsh or blunt.
- Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth.
- Synecdoche: Using a part of something to represent the whole or vice versa.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words for rhythmic effect.
Cherry Picking in Literature: Suggested Readings
- Aristotle. On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse. Translated by George A. Kennedy, Oxford UP, 2007.
- Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. 4th ed., University of Chicago Press, 2016.
- Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2014.
- Heinrichs, Jay. Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion. 3rd ed., Three Rivers Press, 2017.
- Lanham, Richard A. A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms. 2nd ed., University of California Press, 1991.
- Lunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters. Everything’s an Argument with Readings. 8th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2019.
- Perelman, Chaim, and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca. The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation. Translated by John Wilkinson and Purcell Weaver, University of Notre Dame Press, 1969.
- Strunk, William, and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed., Pearson, 1999.