Literary works often function as more than mere entertainment; they serve as vehicles for authors to explore complex ideas and persuade readers of particular viewpoints. While the author's direct voice can certainly shape an argument, a more subtle yet potent method involves the deliberate construction and development of characters. Through their actions, dialogues, beliefs, and transformations, characters embody and advance the author's underlying arguments, inviting readers to engage with them on an emotional and intellectual level. This essay will argue that authors effectively develop arguments in literature primarily through the nuanced portrayal and evolution of their characters, making these fictional beings central to the persuasive power of a narrative.
The development of a character's internal world and external actions can powerfully convey an author's perspective on human nature and societal issues. Consider Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Jean Valjean’s journey from a hardened ex-convict, driven by desperation and resentment, to a man embodying profound compassion and self-sacrifice, forms the core of Hugo’s argument about the transformative power of grace and the corrupting influence of societal injustice. Valjean’s initial theft of the bread, his subsequent condemnation, and his eventual redemption through Bishop Myriel’s act of mercy illustrate Hugo’s critique of a punitive legal system that fails to address root causes of poverty and crime. The narrative does not simply state that society is unfair; it shows this through Valjean’s lived experience, making the author’s argument viscerally felt.
Furthermore, the interactions between characters allow authors to present contrasting viewpoints and explore the complexities of ethical dilemmas. In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the descent of the schoolboys into savagery is not presented as an abstract philosophical concept but as a terrifying reality enacted by Ralph, Piggy, Jack, and their peers. Ralph’s initial attempts to establish order and reason, symbolized by the conch shell, clash with Jack’s primal urge for power and dominance, leading to violence and the tragic death of Piggy. Golding uses these characters to argue that civilization is a fragile veneer, easily stripped away by innate human savagery when societal structures collapse. The arguments about human nature and the necessity of social order are thus embodied and debated through the characters' escalating conflict.
The evolution of a character over the course of a story is also crucial for developing a persuasive argument. A character who undergoes significant change can demonstrate the author’s conviction about the possibility or necessity of growth, adaptation, or even downfall. In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Winston Smith’s initial rebellion against the Party, fueled by a desire for truth and individual thought, is systematically dismantled through torture and psychological manipulation. His eventual capitulation and love for Big Brother represent Orwell's chilling argument about the efficacy of totalitarian control and the fragility of human resistance in the face of absolute power. Winston’s personal tragedy becomes a powerful indictment of oppressive regimes, demonstrating that an author's argument can be forged through the very destruction of a character's spirit.
Ultimately, while an author might employ explicit statements or narrative framing, the most enduring and impactful arguments in literature are those woven into the fabric of character. By creating believable, complex individuals who grapple with moral questions, societal pressures, and their own internal conflicts, authors invite readers to participate actively in the argumentative process. The characters become the conduits through which ideas are explored, tested, and understood. Therefore, the persuasive force of a literary work is inextricably linked to the author's skill in crafting characters who not only populate a story but also embody and advance its most significant thematic concerns.