Unwarranted Assumption in Literature

Unwarranted Assumption in Literature: Introduction

Unwarranted assumption in literature serves as subtle provocateurs, lurking beneath the surface of narratives to challenge readers’ preconceptions. Characters may unwittingly embody societal stereotypes, urging readers to confront their own biases. Authors employ these assumptions as literary devices, subtly shaping plotlines and character arcs. The artful exploration of unwarranted assumptions invites readers to question established norms and societal paradigms. As an indispensable facet of storytelling, these assumptions offer authors a powerful tool for fostering critical reflection and promoting a deeper understanding of the human experience.

Unwarranted Assumption in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

Play	Character	Unwarranted Assumption	Explanation
“Othello”	Iago	Desdemona must be unfaithful because she talks to Cassio.	Iago wrongly assumes that Desdemona’s conversation with Cassio indicates infidelity, leading to his manipulation of Othello and the tragic events that follow.
“Romeo and Juliet”	Mercutio	All members of the opposing family, the Montagues, are enemies.	Mercutio assumes that because Romeo is a Montague, he must be an enemy. This assumption contributes to the ongoing feud and tragic outcome of the play.
“Macbeth”	Macbeth	No man born of a woman can harm me.	Macbeth assumes he is invincible because of the witches’ prophecy. However, Macduff, who was born via Caesarean section, ultimately defeats him, highlighting the flaw in Macbeth’s assumption.
“Hamlet”	Polonius	Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia.	Polonius assumes Hamlet’s erratic behavior is due to his love for Ophelia, leading to misguided actions that contribute to the tragic outcome of the play.
“Julius Caesar”	Brutus	Caesar’s ambition poses a threat to Rome.	Brutus assumes that Caesar’s ambition is dangerous for Rome, justifying his role in the conspiracy. This assumption drives the tragic events of the play, revealing the consequences of unfounded fears.

These examples showcase how unwarranted assumptions play a crucial role in Shakespearean literature, shaping character motivations and contributing to the development of complex plots.

Unwarranted Assumption in Literature: Examples

1. Play: “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller
   • Assumption: The girls’ strange behavior must be linked to witchcraft.
   • Explanation: The characters in the play assume supernatural causes for the girls’ actions, leading to the Salem witch trials.
2. Short Story: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
   • Assumption: The lottery must be a harmless tradition.
   • Explanation: The villagers assume the lottery is benign, only to discover its horrifying nature as the story unfolds.
3. Play: “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen
   • Assumption: Nora is content with her role as a wife and mother.
   • Explanation: Characters, including Nora herself, assume she is satisfied with her traditional role, but her actions reveal a desire for independence.
4. Short Story: “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
   • Assumption: Both characters’ sacrifices will enhance the other’s life.
   • Explanation: The characters assume their sacrifices will result in meaningful gifts, but the irony lies in their unwarranted assumptions.
5. Play: “Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
   • Assumption: Moving into a predominantly white neighborhood will bring happiness.
   • Explanation: The Younger family assumes that a new house will solve their problems, but they face racial tensions they hadn’t anticipated.
6. Short Story: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
   • Assumption: The borrowed necklace is expensive.
   • Explanation: Mathilde assumes the necklace she borrows is valuable, leading to a series of unfortunate events when she loses it.
7. Play: “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
   • Assumption: The ghost is a benevolent spirit.
   • Explanation: Characters initially assume the ghost is a friendly presence, but its revelations lead to chaos and tragedy.
8. Short Story: “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
   • Assumption: The old man’s vulture-like eye is evil.
   • Explanation: The narrator assumes the eye is malevolent, justifying a gruesome murder based on this unwarranted assumption.
9. Play: “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
   • Assumption: Success in business guarantees happiness.
   • Explanation: Willy Loman assumes that achieving financial success will bring happiness to his family, but the pursuit leads to tragedy.
10. Short Story: “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
    • Assumption: The island is a safe haven.
    • Explanation: Rainsford assumes he has found refuge on Ship-Trap Island, only to discover the deadly game played by General Zaroff.

These examples demonstrate how unwarranted assumptions can drive plot developments and add complexity to characters in both plays and short stories.

Unwarranted Assumption in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Unwarranted Assumption in Literature	Example
Feminist Criticism	Unwarranted assumptions about gender roles and expectations shape character dynamics.	In “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen, assumptions about Nora’s contentment with her traditional role reflect societal expectations, fueling feminist interpretations.
Marxist Criticism	Assumptions about social class and economic systems influence character motivations.	“Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller explores assumptions about the American Dream, revealing the impact of capitalism on the characters’ lives.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Unconscious assumptions and desires drive characters’ actions and conflicts.	In “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s assumptions about his mother’s actions are rooted in Freudian concepts of repressed desires and familial relationships.
Postcolonial Theory	Unwarranted assumptions about cultural superiority and colonial impact shape narratives.	“Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad reflects assumptions about European superiority in colonized regions, contributing to postcolonial analyses of the text.
Reader-Response Theory	Reader interpretations are influenced by assumptions and preconceived notions.	In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, readers’ assumptions about traditions impact their reaction to the unexpected twist, showcasing how reader response is influenced by assumptions.
Structuralism	Language and narrative structures can reinforce or challenge unwarranted assumptions.	In “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrative structure influences assumptions about the narrator’s sanity, aligning with structuralist analyses of language and meaning.
Deconstructionism	Unwarranted assumptions are revealed and questioned through linguistic and textual analysis.	“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant can be deconstructed to expose assumptions about material wealth and societal values, highlighting the instability of meaning in texts.
Cultural Studies	Assumptions about culture, identity, and power dynamics impact how stories are told.	“Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry explores assumptions about race and societal norms, aligning with cultural studies’ focus on the interplay of culture and power.
New Historicism	Literary works are products of their historical context, shaped by prevalent assumptions.	In “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, assumptions about witchcraft mirror McCarthyism, illustrating how historical context and assumptions are intertwined in the creation of literature.
Ecocriticism	Assumptions about the environment and humanity’s relationship with nature influence texts.	“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell explores assumptions about the ethics of hunting, reflecting ecocritical concerns about human interactions with the natural world.

These examples demonstrate the versatility of unwarranted assumptions as a literary element, contributing to the richness and depth of various literary theories.

Unwarranted Assumptions: Relevant Rhetorical Terms

Rhetorical Term	Description
Ad Hominem	Attack on the person, not the argument.
Hasty Generalization	Concluding with insufficient evidence.
Circular Reasoning	Using the conclusion as part of the premise.
False Cause/Post Hoc	Assuming correlation implies causation.
Stereotyping	Assuming shared characteristics within a group.
Slippery Slope	Predicting extreme consequences without evidence.
Black-and-White Thinking	Seeing situations in only two categories.
Appeal to Authority	Believing a claim because of the source’s authority.
Begging the Question	Circular argument where the conclusion is in the premise.
False Analogy	Assuming two things are alike in all aspects because they are alike in some.

Unwarranted Assumption in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Aristotle. Prior Analytics. Translated by Hugh Tredennick, Harvard University Press, 1938.
2. Eco, Umberto. Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language. Indiana University Press, 1986.
3. Quine, W. V. O. Word and Object. MIT Press, 2013.
4. Searle, John R. Speech Acts: An Essay in the Philosophy of Language. Cambridge University Press, 1969.
5. Tarski, Alfred. Logic, Semantics, Metamathematics: Papers from 1923 to 1938. Translated by J. H. Woodger, Hackett Publishing Company, 1983.
6. van Benthem, Johan. A Manual of Intensional Logic. Center for the Study of Language and Information, 1988.
7. Walton, Douglas. Informal Logic: A Pragmatic Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
8. Wittgenstein, Ludwig. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. Translated by C. K. Ogden, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1922.
9. Woods, John. Paradox and Paraconsistency: Conflict Resolution in the Abstract Sciences. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
10. Zalta, Edward N. (Ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 2022, https://plato.stanford.edu/.