Pathetic Fallacy

Etymology of Pathetic Fallacy

The term “pathetic fallacy” originated in the 19th century. John Ruskin is stated to have used this phrase for the first time.

The word “pathetic” here does not refer to something pitiful but means “emotion” or “feeling.” It is a derivative of the Greek term, pathos. However, “fallacy” refers to a false or mistaken belief.

The purpose of Ruskin coining the term was to describe the perceived error of attributing human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects.

Meanings of Pathetic Fallacy

1. Symbolism and Meaning: In literature, it means to deepen symbolism and meaning. By associating natural elements with human emotions, writers intend to evoke specific responses from readers, manipulate the atmosphere, or convey deeper meanings of the narrative.
2. Literary Device: Pathetic fallacy is a literary device used to attribute human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or nature. It involves projecting human qualities onto non-human entities to create a specific mood, emphasize certain aspects, or establish a connection between the human experience and the natural world.
3. Emotional Attribution: It involves ascribing feelings such as joy, sadness, anger, or fear to natural phenomena or non-living things, treating them as if they possess human-like sensibilities.
4. Ruskin’s Critique: Coined by the Victorian critic, John Ruskin, the term “pathetic fallacy” originated as a critique. Ruskin argued that attributing human emotions to nature was a fallacy, an error in perception or reasoning. He viewed it as an incorrect projection of human sentiment in the non-human world.
5. Rhetorical Effect: As a rhetorical device, writers use the pathetic fallacy intentionally to create a desired effect. It serves as a persuasive tool to engage readers emotionally, heighten the impact of a scene, or underscore thematic elements in a work.
6. Connection to Nature: It establishes a connection between humans and the natural world by anthropomorphizing elements of nature. It suggests that nature reflects or responds to human experiences, drawing parallels between the emotions felt by humans and the perceived responses of the environment.

Definition of Pathetic Fallacy

It is a literary device in which human emotions and qualities are attributed to inanimate objects or nature. It is a form of personification that suggests a flawed or mistaken representation of the world by ascribing human attributes to non-human entities.

Types of Pathetic Fallacy

Several types could be found in literature, including:

Type of Pathetic Fallacy	Explanation	Example from Literature
Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	Attributing human-like qualities to non-human things or creatures.	In Aesop’s Fables, animals are often anthropomorphized and given human traits to convey moral lessons. For instance, in “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the animals show human attributes like competitiveness and overconfidence.
Mechanomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	Assigning human-like qualities to mechanical or man-made objects.	In the animated film “Cars,” the cars are portrayed with distinct personalities and voices, exhibiting human traits like friendship, rivalry, and humor. They communicate, make decisions, and engage in relationships just like humans.
Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	Ascribing emotions or feelings to natural phenomena or inanimate objects.	In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Cassius says, “The clock hath stricken three.” Here, the clock is given the ability to strike as if it is expressing an emotion or signaling an event.
Mythological Pathetic Fallacy	Attributing mythological or supernatural qualities to nature or objects.	In Greek mythology, the River Styx is personified as a deity. It is believed to have the power to grant invulnerability, and in works like Homer’s “Iliad,” it plays a mythological role by acting as a boundary between the mortal and divine realms.

Common Examples

As is known that it is a literary device in which human emotions or characteristics are attributed to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena. Here are some common examples of pathetic fallacy:

Pathetic Fallacy Example	Type	Explanation
The flowers wept as the storm approached.	Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	The flowers are ascribed the human emotion of weeping, suggesting a sense of sadness or vulnerability before the storm.
The sun smiled down on the happy couple as they walked down the aisle.	Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	The sun is given the human-like action of smiling, portraying a sense of joy or happiness during the couple’s wedding.
The raging storm mirrored the character’s emotions as he lost his temper.	Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	The storm is described as mirroring the character’s emotions, suggesting a parallel between the storm’s intensity and the character’s anger.
The dark clouds signaled the impending doom.	Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	The dark clouds are attributed the ability to signal or indicate something, creating a sense of foreboding or impending danger.
The trees whispered to each other as the wind blew through them.	Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	The trees are personified, given the human-like action of whispering, implying communication or sharing secrets among themselves.
The peaceful stream reflected the character’s serenity.	Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	The stream is described as reflecting the character’s emotional state, suggesting a connection between the serenity of the character and the calmness of the stream.
The gentle breeze kissed her cheeks as she walked through the park.	Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	The breeze is personified, given the human-like action of kissing, conveying a sense of tenderness or affection in the surroundings.
The angry sea roared and crashed against the shore.	Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	The sea is described with the human emotion of anger, roaring and crashing against the shore, evoking a sense of turbulence or fury.
The trees danced in the wind, celebrating the arrival of spring.	Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	The trees are personified, given the human-like action of dancing, representing a sense of joy or celebration in response to the arrival of spring.
The barren land mourned the loss of life during the drought.	Emotive Fallacy	The land is attributed with the human emotion of mourning, conveying a sense of sadness or grief over the loss of life caused by the drought.

These examples show how inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena are given human-like emotions or characteristics to create a deeper emotional impact on the reader.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Wadsworth Publishing, 2013.
2. Barrell, John. The Idea of Landscape and the Sense of Place, 1730-1840: An Approach to the Poetry of John Clare. Cambridge University Press, 1972.
3. Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Biographia Literaria. Oxford University Press, 1985.
4. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
5. Eliot, T. S. The Waste Land. Faber and Faber, 1922.
6. Forsyth, Mark. The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase. Berkley, 2014.
7. Keats, John. Selected Poems. Penguin Classics, 2004.
8. Miller, J. Hillis. The Disappearance of God: Five Nineteenth-Century Writers. Harvard University Press, 1963.
9. Richardson, Alan. British Romanticism and the Science of the Mind. Cambridge University Press, 2001.
10. Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Prometheus Unbound. Oxford University Press, 1820.