Ambiguity in Literature

Ambiguity is possible in literature, ideas, statements, arts, music, and math. In literature, though, ambiguity serves the purpose of lending a deeper meaning to a literary work. By introducing ambiguity in their works, writers allow for more freedom for the readers to use their imagination to explore meanings. This active participation of the readers involves them on a deeper level in the prose or poetry they read. The decision about how the reader interprets the piece of writing thus reflects on the reader’s own psychology. If a reader is an optimistic person, for example, she or he might decide that things ended well, or if the reader has recently experienced a rough time in her or his life, she or he might decide that a betrayal was intentional rather than accidental. Authors sometimes write ambiguous endings in their books precisely to create situations that ask the readers to bring their own experience to bear to decide what happened. If all questions and thoughts were answered in the writing, how would the readers ponder and further think upon the journey literature had sent them on? There is also a difference in being confused and/or not understanding the text and interpreting something differently than someone else. From personal experience, I know misunderstanding and confusion often leads to frustration, ruining a book for me. Being unsure is acceptable to some extent but too much doubt and false impression is not pleasing. Personal interpretation is very important in literature and ambiguity is the key to allow this to occur in literary works.