Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Introduction

The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in literature manifests when readers or analysts selectively focus on specific details, themes, or events within a text, creating the illusion of deliberate intent or meaningful patterns. Similar to a marksman painting a target around a cluster of bullet holes after firing randomly at a barn, this fallacy involves retrospectively assigning significance to chosen elements while overlooking the broader context. In literary analysis, it warns against drawing conclusions based on isolated details without considering the entirety of the narrative, characters, and the author’s intentions.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

1. Macbeth: Ambition and Fate
   • Scenario: Focusing solely on Macbeth’s ambition as the primary factor leading to his tragic downfall, while neglecting the role of fate, supernatural elements, and the influence of other characters like the witches and Lady Macbeth.
2. Othello: Jealousy and Manipulation
   • Scenario: Emphasizing Othello’s jealousy as the exclusive cause of the tragedy, while overlooking the manipulations of Iago, racial tensions, and the societal context that contribute to the tragic events.
3. Romeo and Juliet: Love Conquers All
   • Scenario: Viewing the play as a simple affirmation that love conquers all, ignoring the familial feud, impulsive decisions, and societal constraints that contribute to the tragic fate of the young lovers.
4. Hamlet: Indecision as the Sole Cause
   • Scenario: Singling out Hamlet’s indecision as the primary cause of the unfolding tragedy, while neglecting political intrigue, moral dilemmas, and the complex dynamics within the royal family.
5. King Lear: Poor Judgment and Nothing More
   • Scenario: Focusing exclusively on King Lear’s poor judgment as the reason for his tragic fate, while overlooking themes of familial relationships, betrayal, and the consequences of absolute power in the play.

In each of these Shakespearean examples, the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy would involve isolating and overemphasizing one element as the main cause of the narrative events, disregarding the interconnected and multifaceted nature of the plays.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Examples

1. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson:
   • In this short story, the town holds an annual lottery where the winner is stoned to death. The townspeople blindly follow the tradition, focusing on the importance of community and ritual. The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy occurs when the characters ignore the brutality and senseless violence inherent in the lottery, choosing instead to emphasize the cohesion and unity it brings to the community.
2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
   • The novel centers around Jay Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth and success to win back his lost love, Daisy. The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy is evident when characters, especially Gatsby, focus on the glamorous parties, opulent lifestyle, and the superficial aspects of his success while ignoring the corrupt means by which he attained his wealth and the emptiness of his dream.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
   • The novel deals with racial injustice in the American South. The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy is present when characters, particularly those defending the status quo, selectively highlight instances where the legal system appears fair or when certain individuals treat others respectfully, while ignoring the systemic racism and prejudice that pervades society.
4. Animal Farm by George Orwell:
   • The allegorical novella focuses on the animals’ rebellion against their human oppressors, illustrating the dangers of totalitarianism. The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy is apparent when the pigs in charge selectively emphasize the farm’s supposed equality and prosperity while suppressing dissent and exploiting the other animals, thereby creating a false narrative of utopia.
5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley:
   • In this dystopian novel, the society is portrayed as technologically advanced and seemingly perfect. The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy comes into play when characters emphasize the stability and happiness provided by the government-controlled society, ignoring the loss of individuality, emotional depth, and personal freedom that citizens experience.

In each of these examples, characters or narrators manipulate perception by selectively emphasizing certain elements of the story, creating a distorted view of reality and supporting a specific narrative or theme.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Work	Literary Theory	Relevance of Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson	New Criticism	The focus on the ritual and community aspects while neglecting the brutality aligns with close textual analysis and symbolism.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	Marxist Criticism	The selective emphasis on Gatsby’s wealth and parties, ignoring the corrupt means, reflects class struggle and materialism.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee	Critical Race Theory	The highlighting of seemingly fair instances while ignoring systemic racism aligns with the examination of power and privilege.
Animal Farm by George Orwell	Political Allegory	The pigs’ manipulation of perception mirrors political propaganda and the distortion of truth for ideological purposes.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley	Dystopian Literature	The emphasis on stability and happiness while ignoring loss of individuality relates to critiques of oppressive utopian societies.

It is important to note that the relevance of the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in literary theories can be interpreted and applied differently based on individual perspectives and scholarly analyses. The table above provides a general overview of how the fallacy might align with various literary theories in the context of specific works.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy	Selectively focusing on specific details that support a narrative while ignoring contradictions.
Confirmation Bias	Preferring information that confirms preexisting beliefs and dismissing conflicting evidence.
Cherry-Picking Evidence	Selectively choosing data or examples that support a particular argument while ignoring others.
Anachronism	Placing something out of its proper historical or chronological context in a literary work.
Red Herring	Introducing irrelevant information to distract or divert attention from the main issue.
False Analogy	Drawing comparisons between unrelated things to make an argument more persuasive.
Straw Man Argument	Misrepresenting an opponent’s position to make it easier to attack and refute.
Hasty Generalization	Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.
Ad Hominem	Attacking the character of a person instead of addressing the substance of their argument.
Ambiguity	The presence of multiple meanings or interpretations within a literary work.

Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters, Everything’s an Argument with Readings, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2019.
2. Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.
3. John D. Ramage, John C. Bean, and June Johnson, Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings, Pearson, 2018.
4. Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research, University of Chicago Press, 2008.
5. Stephen Toulmin, The Uses of Argument, Cambridge University Press, 2003.