Introduction
Classic literature offers a number of plots and themes that readers can both enjoy and learn from. The content of these works however, often contains deeper truths and meanings that readers must translate. Commonly referred to as presupposition, this theory implies that certain contents of literary works have presumed knowledge, which is stressed by means of placing footnotes or endnotes within the works. Similar to academic use, footnotes can also be use as a literary device to provide additional details or explain a particular section of the literature.
This does not only help in elaborating the truth behind the text but also in providing useful knowledge. Some works may contain brief or lengthy footnotes; other works are even written entirely in footnotes. The use of these footnotes however, tend to vary depending on how they are used. In this essay, the theory of presupposition will be discussed. In addition, citing presuppositions through footnotes in various literary classics will also be cited. Finally, the effect of using footnotes will be identified as well through literature examples.
Presupposition
The theory of presupposition falls under the field of linguistics and pragmatics. This concept is based on the assumption that the truth behind the literary text is taken for granted. This theory occurs in natural language and happens when the speaker says something that is assumed to be true by using other assertions. Thus, if the text indicates that “My wife is pregnant”, the presupposition here is that the speaker has a wife; in the same way, if the speaker asks, “Do you want to try again?”, it is assumed that the receiver has tried doing the task at least once. In some literary classics, several presumed knowledge can be found. However, as the truth behind the context is at times difficult to decipher, authors make use of footnotes so as to elaborate on these presuppositions. Footnotes in this case, are used in written works as a literary device.
Footnotes and Literary Classics
There are actually a number of literary classics that made use of footnotes for this purpose. Other literary works had in fact utilized footnotes extensively; an example of this is the The Third Policeman authored by Flann O’Brien. In this work, the author focused on discussing de Selby, a fictional philosopher, by means of lengthy footnotes that appear to almost take out the main plot.
While footnotes are often used in literary classics to explain its presumed content, the author of this work utilized this literary device to add incongruity to the work. Ibid: A Life written by Mark Dunn on the other hand, has the entire work written in footnotes. Here, the footnotes have been used to add both humor and seriousness in the work’s message. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace made use of over 400 endnotes in this literary classic; some of the endnotes were about 12 pages long each.
One of the popular literary works that made use of footnotes for the elucidation of presumed knowledge is James Joyce in Ulysses. There are a number of reasons why the author had used footnotes as a literary device in his work. One of which is the fact that the book has been translated in over twenty languages such as Gaelic, Arabic, Icelandic and Malayalam. Considering that that the setting of the work is different from foreign readers and may be perceived differently, footnotes then serve as a useful device for explaining the real context of the novel.
In addition, Ulysses is a novel that based primarily on allusion, Irish humor and puns. The novel was structured wherein a literary analogue is not present most of the time; explanatory footnotes are then used to elaborate. In China, the book was translated by Wen Jieruo and Xiao Qian; the author opted to explain the peculiarities contained in the book through the use of footnotes. A total of 5,991 footnotes were actually used in the final translated book so as to let millions of readers in China to be enlightened by this literary work (China through a Lens, 2002).
The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien is another classic literature that is made of footnotes. One of the reasons why considerable footnotes had been used in this work is due to the biblical and mythological elements contained in the series. One of the important presuppositions in this literary work is the division of men from the elves. In this work, it has been indicated that death is the only one that divides the elves from humans. This is because death accidentally comes to the elves, whereas it part of human nature. In this literature, there is a clear implication that elves are somehow higher beings than humanity as immortality is considered a feature of divine creatures (Casey, 2004).
However, Tolkien noted that while this is so, this is not the ulterior motive of this characterization. The author treated death not as a punishment for lesser beings but as God’s gift fro human beings. Basing it on biblical writings and beliefs, death is considered a gift as it enables human being to finally be at peace and be with God. Thus, in this footnote, it is implying that readers must know the nature of death as well as God’s divine plan for humanity in order to understand this presupposition.
Effects of using Footnotes
The use of footnotes, as implied in the examples given above, has a number of purposes as a literary device. In the case of Ulysses for instance, footnotes are placed in order to allow the readers, particularly those without any background about Irish culture, to understand and appreciate the local puns and humor integrated in the story. The placement of footnotes is advantageous especially if the work is translated in numerous languages and distributed to highly diverse cultures. Presuppositions in the text become difficult to decipher especially if the reader do not know the basis of its assertion; the footnotes then assist the readers in understanding them.
Footnotes are also advantageous for the readers as it encourage them to read further about the context or basis of the literary work. A good example is Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The series itself made use of characters based on mythology; explanatory footnotes then direct the readers on the mythological aspects they could focus on for further reading. The book is also made up of various religious insinuations that readers, especially those with a different belief, may not comprehend. The use of footnotes then allows readers to understand the deeper meaning behind these religious concepts; in turn, the use of these explanatory footnotes is then useful in informing others about different religions and cultures.
There are also certain drawbacks in using footnotes for literary classics. As explained by Wen and Xiao (China through a Lens, 2002), the use of footnotes in literature tend to complicate the story’s content most of the time. The story of The Third Policeman is one good example for this drawback. This novel actually contains lengthy references and footnotes that it appears as if the footnotes itself could have been the story. Critics of the novel noted that the footnotes do not particularly support reader comprehension as they are focused on giving nothing but senseless ideas about the de Selby, the main character. It is then a wonder for some readers whether these footnotes only suggest the unreliability of the narrator as he selects discoveries and theories that discredit de Selby or if de Selby is just insane.
Aside from the irrelevance, the footnotes in this work also appear serious yet unnecessary. It is then a usual tendency for readers of this work to get lost from the main topic or plot of the novel. Rather than provide additional or useful information, presuppositions are not explained and readers often have different interpretations of what they had read. The lack of elucidation through footnotes then results to confusion or disinterest. The work also tends to have a lesser impact on the readers without the proper use of footnotes.
Conclusion
In this brief essay, presupposition has been explained as a concept where the truths behind the text concept are only implied through assertions. Readers should then identify these presumptions in order to gain the deeper meanings behind the texts. In the case of literary classics, where myths, legend and historical facts are incorporated, these presuppositions must be clarified for the readers to understand. This is done through the use of footnotes. Footnotes in these literary works allow readers to understand cultural settings that are different from their own. The placement of footnotes also encourages readers to conduct further reading in relation to the topic. However, these effects are not observed if the footnotes are used to complicate the plot or story itself. It is then essential for authors to optimize these footnotes by using them to assist the readers’ understanding and learning.
References:
Casey, D. (2004, February). The Gift of Iluvatar: Tolkien’s Theological Vision. Australian EJournal of Theology. Retrieved April 3, 2006 from http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/staffhome/dacasey/Tolkien.htm
Life of Love, Letter and Joyce (2002, July 12). China through a Lens. Retrieved April 3, 2006 from http://www.china.org.cn/english/NM-e/38565.htm
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment