The Use of Opposites in Literature

Nutting 1Karen NuttingT. L. PagaardEngl122/077818 December 2000The Use of Opposites in LiteratureJust as an artist uses darkness in order to show light in a painting, writers useopposites in literature to tell their stories. The artist uses contrast to draw the eye wherehe wants the viewer to look. The writer uses such tools as juxtaposition and characterfoils to engage the reader’s attention and to deliver meaning. Contrast serves many purposesin the literary experience. It causes the reader’s emotions to become involved. Itoften persuades the reader to make choices as he or she lives through the dilemma a protagonistfaces in a story. It allows the reader to see both sides of a coin for more completeunderstanding. In many of the reading selections this semester contrast is used to heightenthe impact of the story. Some of these selections include the short stories “RomanFever,” “In Exile,” and “Greenleaf.” There are also the characterizations of Gregor and hisfamily in Franz Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis. We see contrast in the poems “Curiosity”by Alastair Reed and Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.” We even contemplate theopposing politics of the Czech Republic in Vaclav Havel’s play Unveiling.Character foils are the most common and effective way a writer can show a contrast—ormore important, a dilemma. The dilemma shows the human side of a characterand allows the reader to compare the experience of the story to some aspect of her or hisown life. On a larger scale, opposing personalities are a means for the author to depicthuman nature or the frailty of the human spirit, especially if the protagonist is facingdifficult choices. Some good examples of character foils come from the short fiction selectionsthis semester. In Edith Wharton’s “Roman Fever” the use of characterization showsthe disparity between two women, Ms. Slade and Ms. Ansley, who share a common pastand the affections of Mr. Slade. Aside from the use of the two women as character foils,

Nutting 2Wharton uses the images of light and dark to represent the contrast theme of the story.These two women are different in looks as well as actions. Ms. Slade is a brunette and Ms.Ansley is blonde. Their personalities are opposite too: Ms. Ansley is quiet and reservedwhile Ms. Slade is a lively socialite. The author’s descriptions of the scenery enhance themood of the conversation the women are sharing. When the conversation is light and trivialthey gaze at the light of the Palatine. As tension between them increases, they lookaway toward the darkened Forum, an arena of great argument and conflict, and finally tothe grim Colosseum. The women’s encounter passes from the bright afternoon sun to theshadows of evening. This is a good example of using the dark to show the light.The dilemma the Tartar faces in the story “In Exile” is an excellent portrayal ofthe fragile human spirit. The Tartar’s dilemma of whether to give up hope and stay on theriver or to make a life for himself is revealed to him by the actions of character foils, ThePreacher and Vasily. Flannery O’Connor’s “Greenleaf” pits the dysfunctional May familyagainst the more successful Greenleaf boys to show how tolerance and hard work areworthwhile human characteristics.For many readers literature becomes an emotional experience. The selections fromour poetry unit involve the senses by using highly charged language in their delivery. Atool commonly used by poets is contrast and often times opposites. In Robert Frost’s “TheRoad Not Taken,” the two roads he compares, one rough and the other smooth and welltrodden,represent difficult choices that one might encounter in life. Without the contrastof this imagery the message might be as simple as this: The easier road isn’t always best.In much the same fashion, the poem “Curiosity” by Alastair Reed teaches us that it is thelack of curiosity that usually spells trouble for most people. If we don’t take risks, wewon’t be rewarded with all that life has to offer. But poetry isn’t the only genre that tapsinto our emotions.The novella Metamorphosis strikes a chord of emotion in every reader. At first wemay be turned off by the grotesque image of a writhing cockroach, but before long we are

Nutting 3champions for Gregor, our sympathy evoked by the very nasty members of his family.Once again character opposites serve to deliver this contrast between the hard-workingGregor and his father, the lazy head of the family. A symbol of this contrast is the uniformsworn by the two men. Gregor’s is an honorable military dress outfit. The father’s isthat of a lowly bank messenger boy. Gregor’s mother, rather than being nurturing andsympathetic, is self-absorbed and cares more about what the neighbors might think. Hissister turns on him too. By the end of the story, the reader feels only compassion for thesuffering Gregor and disgust for his horrible family.In a politically motivated piece such as Havel’s Unveiling, it is emotions that theplaywright is trying to involve. Havel wants us to feel the nature of the choice facing hisaudience between competing political loyalties, so he sets characters as silly andsuperficial as Vera and Michael against the thoughtful Vanek. Vanek wants to escape theapartment from the beginning of the play but stays to endure the antics of the couple. Atthe end he is finally cornered into staying by Vera’s hysterical outburst. Havel makes usfeel the superficiality of the politically dominant ideas in his country at the time. Emotionsare often at the core of political issues.Contrast is an effective way for the writer to show the reader two sides of thesame coin. The best examples of this technique are “In Exile” and “Greenleaf.” For theTartar’s enlightenment in “In Exile” Anton Chekhov uses two opposite characters to representhow life can be in the harsh and frigid wasteland that these people have been banishedto. On one side is the ever-negative Preacher, who is stagnant and stays on theriver. He spends his days being lazy, selfish, and drinking his life away. On the other sidethere is the ever-positive Vasily, who never gives up hope of a useful life that can behappy and full of love from his wife and daughter. The Preacher is an existentialist, whobelieves that the only fact he can count on is that he exists. Vasily believes in hope andoptimism. By showing us both sides of the bleak picture, Chekhov enables the reader tomake an informed choice between two approaches to life.

Nutting 4In “Greenleaf” Flannery O’Connor similarly uses the contrast between two familiesin order to define how people interact and make choices in their lives. The May familymight have started out with more, but the Greenleafs, due hard work and a strong senseof family, succeed beyond Ms. May’s comprehension and her prejudiced view of them. Withtheir fighting and bickering, the May boys are a constant irritation to their mother.Instead of helping on the farm, they make excuses for their low-level jobs of insurancesalesman and teacher. The Greenleaf boys get along well and run a clean and efficientfarm with all the latest equipment. Once again we have very opposite characters interactingwith one another to enable the reader to see the whole sordid picture. The reader canthen come away from the story with a better understanding of the importance of compassionand tolerance.Several important elements of literature must be present in order for a story towork. Readers won’t be drawn into a story unless their emotions are engaged. As a reader,I need the dark in order to see the light. I need to have a writer show me both sides ofthe coin so that I can see the whole picture. Many of my favorite writers, Flannery O’Connorfor instance, use this technique very effectively. I come away from a very powerfulstory like “Greenleaf” with a better understanding of what she wanted me to experience. Imay never know exactly what the bull was whispering in old Ms. May’s ear, but I am surethat I should never be guided by preconceived notions that I know a person’s characterwithout knowing the whole story. Many excellent writers have guided me this semesterthrough a treasury of experiences with their use of opposites and contrast.

Nutting 5Works CitedThomas R. Arp, ed. Perrine’s Literature. Harcourt Brace. Fort Worth. 1998.