Pathetic Fallacy: A Useful Technique

Introduction to Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic fallacy, an essential literary device, involves attributing human emotions, traits, or attributes to elements of the natural world such as weather, landscapes, or animals. Authors use this technique to create an emotional atmosphere, accentuating the mood or theme of their work. Specifically, supported by Romantic poets, this device serves to convey the emotional state of characters or the overarching tone of a narrative, thereby eliciting empathy and resonance among readers.

Literary Examples of Pathetic Fallacy

Type of Pathetic Fallacy	Pathetic Fallacy Example	Source and Explanation
Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	“The wind howled in the night, like the cries of a thousand lost souls.”	Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein The howling wind represents the character’s internal turmoil and despair, reflecting the emotional state of the character as he contemplates the consequences of his creation.
Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	“The sky was dark and gloomy, the air thick with the scent of impending rain.”	Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights The dark and gloomy sky mirrors the stormy emotions of the characters, foreshadowing the turbulent events that will occur in the story.
Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	“The sun smiled down upon them, casting a golden light upon the field of wildflowers.”	F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby The smiling sun personifies nature, representing the happiness and joy experienced by the characters during a carefree day, creating an idyllic atmosphere in the scene.
Anthropomorphic Pathetic Fallacy	“The trees whispered to each other, as if sharing secrets in the night.”	J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone The whispering trees anthropomorphize nature, adding a touch of magic and mystery to the scene, setting the stage for the enchanting events that will unfold in the magical world of Hogwarts.
Emotive Pathetic Fallacy	“The sea heaved and roared, as if in anger at the ship for daring to cross its waters.”	Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick The angry sea symbolizes the power and danger of nature, as well as reflecting the internal struggles of the characters on the ship, highlighting the tumultuous and perilous nature of their journey.

How to Create Pathetic Fallacy in a Fictional Work

Here are some tips on how to create pathetic fallacy in a fictional work:

Step	Explanation	Practical Example
1. Identify the emotion you want to convey	Begin by determining the specific emotion or mood you aim to evoke in your writing. Pathetic fallacy is most effective when it aligns with the narrative’s emotional core.	In a suspenseful scene, dark clouds gathered overhead, foreshadowing the impending danger and instilling fear in the characters and readers.
2. Choose the right natural element	Select a natural element (e.g., weather, landscapes, animals) that symbolizes or mirrors the chosen emotion. Ensure that this element complements your narrative context.	The serene, sun-drenched meadow reflected the protagonist’s inner peace, highlighting their happiness and contentment.
3. Use descriptive language	Employ vivid and evocative descriptions when attributing human qualities to the chosen natural element. Paint a clear picture to immerse the reader in the emotional atmosphere.	The icy wind howled through the desolate streets, echoing the protagonist’s loneliness and despair.
4. Make it relevant to the story	Ensure that the use of pathetic fallacy serves a narrative purpose. It should advance the plot, develop characters, or contribute to the overall thematic message of the story.	As the storm raged outside, the character’s internal turmoil reached its climax, mirroring the chaos in their life.
5. Use it sparingly	While pathetic fallacy can be a powerful literary tool, avoid overusing it. Strategic application is more impactful, creating moments of heightened emotional resonance within your writing.	The gentle rain began to fall, signifying a fresh start for the protagonist after a series of hardships and setbacks.

These steps and examples demonstrate how to effectively utilize pathetic fallacy in your writing to enhance emotional depth and narrative impact.

Benefits of Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic fallacy is a powerful literary device that can bring several benefits to your writing. Here are some of the benefits of using pathetic fallacy in your work:

1. Creates atmosphere: Pathetic fallacy helps establish the overall mood and tone of your narrative, immersing readers in the desired atmosphere of your story.
2. Conveys emotions: It provides a subtle yet effective means to convey characters’ and situations’ emotions, allowing readers to connect with the story on an emotional level.
3. Adds depth and complexity: By attributing human qualities to the natural world, it adds layers of depth and complexity to your storytelling, making it more engaging and thought-provoking.
4. Foreshadows events: Pathetic fallacy can serve as a literary tool to hint at or foreshadow upcoming events or changes in the narrative, adding intrigue and suspense.
5. Enhances imagery: It aids in creating vivid mental images for readers, making your descriptions more evocative and memorable.
6. Symbolizes themes: You can use it to symbolize or mirror the overarching themes of your work, reinforcing the message you want to convey.
7. Facilitates character development: Pathetic fallacy can mirror or contrast with characters’ emotions, helping to highlight their internal struggles and growth throughout the story.
8. Engages readers’ senses: By connecting emotions with sensory experiences, it engages readers’ senses and makes your writing more immersive.
9. Evokes empathy: Readers often empathize more readily with characters when their emotions are reflected in the surrounding natural elements, enhancing reader-character connections.
10. Creates memorable moments: It can lead to powerful, memorable scenes that linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished your work.

Pathetic Fallacy and Literary Theory

Literary Theory	Pathetic Fallacy Critique	Example from Literature/Criticism	Pathetic Fallacy in Example
Marxist theory	Marxist critics might analyze how the use of natural elements to represent human emotions or events reflects the social and political structures of the time.	In Charles Dickens’ novel Hard Times, the gloomy and industrialized setting reflects the dehumanizing effects of capitalism on society, and the polluted air and bleak landscape symbolize the working-class struggles during the Victorian era.	The gloomy and industrialized setting, as well as the polluted air and bleak landscape, constitute a pathetic fallacy, where the natural elements reflect the social and political structures of the time.
Psychoanalytic theory	Psychoanalytic critics might analyze how the use of natural elements to represent human emotions or events reflects the characters’ unconscious desires or fears.	In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the stormy weather and chaotic natural elements surrounding significant events mirror the psychological turmoil and guilt experienced by the characters, particularly Macbeth’s internal struggles.	The stormy weather and chaotic natural elements in the play constitute a pathetic fallacy, representing the characters’ psychological turmoil and guilt, which aligns with psychoanalytic analysis.
Feminist theory	Feminist critics might analyze how the use of natural elements to represent human emotions or events reflects gender roles or power dynamics.	In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the decaying and oppressive environment of the protagonist’s room mirrors the restrictive and oppressive nature of traditional gender roles and patriarchal society, critiquing the treatment of women at the time.	The decaying and oppressive environment of the protagonist’s room, symbolizing traditional gender roles and a patriarchal society, is an example of pathetic fallacy, highlighting the power dynamics and gender-related implications through natural elements.

Pathetic fallacy is a literary device that can be analyzed and interpreted through different literary theories. Here are some examples:

Overall, the use of it could be subjected to analysis and interpretations through a variety of literary theories, each offering a unique perspective on the role of natural elements in literature.

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.