Invective in Literature

Introduction: Invective in Literature

Invective in literature serves as a powerful rhetorical and literary device employed to convey strong emotions, critique individuals or institutions, and influence the reader’s or audience’s perception.

This form of expressive language encompasses vehement and often derogatory remarks, encompassing a spectrum from subtle mockery to explicit insults. By strategically utilizing invective, authors and orators can enhance characterization, shape narrative tension, and engage in social or political commentary.

Its presence in literature contributes to a nuanced understanding of the role of language in shaping both the narrative and the reader’s interpretation.

Shakespearean Invective in Literature

1. Witty Wordplay: Shakespeare’s characters engage in clever wordplay, often using puns or double meanings to mock or criticize. For example, in “Romeo and Juliet,” Mercutio says, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!”
2. Direct Insults and Name-Calling: Characters in Shakespeare’s works directly insult and belittle their adversaries. In “Othello,” Iago calls Othello “an old black ram” to racially insult him.
3. Social and Class-Based Insults: Insults related to social status and class are present in Shakespeare’s works. In “King Lear,” Goneril says, “Thou art a boil, a plague sore, or embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood.”
4. Gender-Based Insults: Shakespeare’s characters employ gender-based insults. In “The Taming of the Shrew,” Petruchio taunts Kate with gender-based invective: “Now, by the world, it is a lusty wench!”
5. Political and Moral Critique: Characters in Shakespeare’s plays use invective to challenge authority figures or societal norms. In “Julius Caesar,” Brutus criticizes Caesar’s ambitions with “ambition’s debt is paid.”

Examples of Invective in Literature

1. Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
   • Extract: In Act 1, Scene 2, Hamlet expresses his disdain for his mother’s hasty remarriage after his father’s death: “Frailty, thy name is woman!”
   • Explanation: In this famous line, Hamlet criticizes his mother, Queen Gertrude, for her perceived moral weakness and lack of loyalty. He accuses women, in general, of being fickle and easily swayed.
2. Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
   • Extract: Swift’s satirical essay suggests that the impoverished Irish should sell their children as food to the rich: “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.”
   • Explanation: Swift uses this shocking and grotesque proposal to vehemently criticize British colonialism and its exploitation of the Irish population, employing invective to highlight the cruelty and absurdity of the situation.
3. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
   • Extract: In this novel, the character Pap Finn uses invective to criticize various elements of society, such as education, government, and race. For example, he says, “It was ‘lection day, and I was just about to go and vote myself if I warn’t too drunk to get there; but when they told me there was a state in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again.”
   • Explanation: Pap Finn’s character is used by Twain to embody the racism and ignorance prevalent in the society of the time. His invective language is a tool to expose and criticize these flaws.
4. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies
   • Extract: In the novel, one of the characters, Jack, often uses invective to criticize the leadership of Ralph: “He’s like Piggy. He says things like Piggy. He isn’t a proper chief.”
   • Explanation: Jack’s use of invective in this context is meant to undermine Ralph’s authority and leadership, creating a division among the boys on the island. It also highlights the power struggle and descent into savagery.

These examples showcase how invective is used in literature to evoke emotional responses, highlight social issues, criticize characters, or make a broader satirical point. It is a powerful tool for authors to convey strong emotions and commentary within their works.

How to Create Invective in Literature

Creating invective in literature involves using strong, abusive language or insults to criticize or mock someone or something. Here are five key strategies for incorporating invective into your literary work:

1. Choose Your Target: Select the character, object, or concept you want to criticize or mock. Be clear about your target to focus your invective effectively.
2. Use Vivid Language: Employ colorful and descriptive language to emphasize your criticisms. Use adjectives, metaphors, and similes to paint a vivid picture of your subject’s flaws or shortcomings.
3. Employ Hyperbole: Exaggerate your criticisms to an extreme degree to make your invective more impactful. Hyperbole can emphasize the severity of your disapproval.
4. Consider Tone and Context: Be mindful of the overall tone and context of your literary work. Ensure that the use of invective aligns with the style and theme of your piece.
5. Maintain Creativity: Be creative in your approach to invective. Use wordplay, puns, or literary devices like alliteration or assonance to make your insults more memorable and engaging.

Remember that while invective can be a powerful literary tool, it should be used judiciously and in accordance with the overall goals and themes of your work.

Benefits of Using Invective in Literature

1. Emphasizes Critique: Invective allows writers to express strong criticism, making it a useful tool for highlighting flaws, injustices, or societal issues in a powerful and attention-grabbing manner.
2. Engages Emotions: The use of invective can evoke strong emotions in readers, enhancing their connection to the text and helping to convey the depth of the author’s sentiment.
3. Creates Memorable Characters: Characters who employ invective can be more memorable and multi-dimensional, as their sharp language adds complexity to their personalities and motivations.
4. Satirical Effect: Invective can be used for satirical purposes, shedding light on the absurdities or hypocrisies of a particular subject, which can be both entertaining and thought-provoking for the reader.
5. Stylistic Flourish: When used skillfully, invective can serve as a stylistic flourish, adding a layer of sophistication and complexity to the literary work, making it more engaging and enjoyable for the audience.

It is important to note that while invective can be a valuable literary device, its usage should be carefully considered, as excessive or gratuitous invective can alienate readers and detract from the overall quality of the work.

Invective in Literature and Literary Theories

Theories	Critique
Formalism or New Criticism	– Analyze the structure, form, and language of the invective within the text.
	– Explore how the invective contributes to the overall themes and message of the work.
	– Examine the use of literary devices such as metaphors, similes, and word choice in the invective.
Marxist Criticism	– Assess how invective is used to criticize or expose social and economic inequalities.
	– Investigate the power dynamics revealed through invective and how it reinforces or challenges class distinctions.
	– Consider how invective may serve as a form of resistance against oppressive systems.
Feminist Criticism	– Examine how invective is directed at or affects female characters, and how it perpetuates or challenges gender stereotypes.
	– Analyze the use of invective in relation to issues of misogyny or patriarchal structures within the text.
	– Explore how female authors employ invective to express female experiences and perspectives.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	– Investigate the psychological motivations of characters who use invective and how it reveals their inner conflicts and desires.
	– Analyze how invective might be linked to unconscious motives, fears, or defense mechanisms.
	– Consider the impact of invective on the reader’s psyche and emotions.
Reader-Response Criticism	– Examine how different readers respond to the invective in the text, considering their personal backgrounds and experiences.
	– Analyze the emotional and intellectual reactions invoked by the invective.
	– Explore how the invective influences the reader’s interpretation of the text and its themes.
Postcolonial Criticism	– Investigate how invective may be used to represent or challenge colonial power dynamics, racism, and cultural imperialism.
	– Analyze how invective may reflect the tensions and conflicts between colonizers and colonized individuals or groups.
	– Consider how invective can be a tool for resistance and decolonization.
Deconstruction	– Deconstruct the invective to reveal underlying contradictions and tensions within the text.
	– Examine how invective can disrupt or subvert established meanings and hierarchies.
	– Explore the ambiguity and instability of language within the invective.

Suggested Readings

1. Foucault, Michel. Fearless Speech. Semiotext(e), 2001.
2. Jay, Martin. The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics. University of Virginia Press, 2012.
3. Freeman, Lisa A. Antitheatricality and the body public. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.
4. Wajnryb, Ruth. Language Most Foul. ABC Books, 2006.
5. Johnson, Robert P. Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men’s Lives. Llewellyn Publications, 2016.
6. Zinsser, William. On Writing Well. HarperCollins, 2006.