Definition of Expletive
An expletive is a word or phrase, that is added to a sentence, and it does not change its meaning or grammatical structure. Usually, the expletives add emphasis, convey emotion and fill a gap in the sentence.
Many people considers expletives as imprecation, however this is not their only use. Expletives involve the use of words like “there” or “it” at the beginning of the sentences. They also serve as procurators in the sentences.
Common Use of Expletives
Expletives are used in numerous ways in the literature and in everyday speech:
- Emphasis: In a sentence, expletive is used to create stress on a particular point or emotion.
- Expression of Emotion: It is used to impart strong feelings like anger, frustration and surprise.
- Syntactical Filler: Expletives are employed to make sentences grammatically complete. They also enhance the flow of the sentences.
Expletive Examples in Literature
Example#1
“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger
“Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.”
In this section of the novel, the writer resorts to using the expletive “Goddam” when he is extremely annoyed and frustrated over the materialness of money and its effects.
The use of the expletive brings out the emotional intensity of what he says, the conflict and the resentment he carries within him.
This usage is one of the prime example where expletives contributes to the portrayal of the character’s state and the naturalness of the dialogue.
Example#2
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me. They meet all kinds of crazy fish.”
The use of expletive “By God” is both vehement and somewhat archaic, fitting for Tom Buchanan’s self-righteous idea of the position of modern women.
This expletive serves to enhance the audacity of the character of Tom and the passion he has in him. It also gives the reader a glimpse of the conservative side of Tom together with the emerging conflict between the new liberal 1920’s’ culture and the old ‘admirable’ moral culture.
Example#3
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
“Damn it, Scout, I’ve told you to leave those poor critters alone.”
Atticus Finch, a thoroughly decent man, says ‘Damn it,’ to his daughter Scout. This use of expletive reflects his frustration. Atticus Finch is usually a wise and calm man, however this expletive in the middle of his command emphasizes the seriousness of his command.
It is also a good way to develop the complexity of relationship between the father and daughter, which depicts a more natural and touching side.
Example#4
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey
“Good Christ, you’re a hairy sonofabitch.”
In the following line, the use of interjection “Good Christ” is expletive, which reflects shock and surprise. The casual and everyday language used by the characters in the mental institution shows their honest and open interactions.
The expletive makes the dialogue feel more real. It helps the readers to understand the characters’ surroundings and their relationships with each other.
Example#5
“Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
“Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why.”
In the novel, the use of the phrase “Well, here we are” could be regarded as an expletive construction that performs an action of bringing forth a substantial philosophical proposition.
While not profane, its role is to create the environment that will later be used for a more reflective process. The use of expletive emphasizes the inevitability and acceptance of circumstances, that are central themes in the novel.
Example#6
“Ulysses” by James Joyce
“Yes, because he never did a thing like that before as ask to get his breakfast in bed with a couple of eggs since the City Arms hotel when he used to be pretending to be laid up with a sick voice doing his highness to make himself interesting to that old faggot Mrs Riordan that he thought he had a great leg of.”
As for the genre, the poem is considered to be written in the stream of consciousness and candid portrayal of thoughts.
The use of term “old faggot” in this context is an abusive expletive, which depicts the character’s hatred and disdain. This kind of language, though shocking, presents the concrete and unaltered image of the the characters’ mind.
Example#7
“A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess
“’What’s it going to be then, eh?’ There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar making up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening, a flip dark chill winter bastard though dry.”
The use of term “bastard” portrays the harshness of the winter evening. Burgess tendency to generate his own slang or Nadsat, brings in expletives that enrich the characters’ rebellious tone in the dystopian society.
This usage is helpful in order to express the ‘tough and vicious’ environment where the main character and his companions exist.
Example#8
“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck
“Jesus Christ, George! I was just foolin’, Lennie. I didn’t mean no harm, George.”
In the novella, the expletive “Jesus Christ” has been employed by the character to portray alarm and emphasize the urgency of his apology.
This expression aids in drawing attention to the character’s situation and the circumstances surrounding the scene, explaining how profanity can effectively be employed to depict emotions of desperation and suspense in a conversation.
See also: What is Epigram in Literature?
Example#9
“Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov
“You have to be an artist and a madman, a creature of infinite melancholy, with a bubble of hot poison in your loins and a super-voluptuous flame permanently aglow in your subtle spine. Oh, how you have to cringe and hide!”
In “Lolita,” the phrase “a bubble of hot poison in your loins” has been analyzed as an expletive, more associated with the emotions of the readers and desires.
The shocking imagery is quite graphic and somewhat vulgar which contributes to the controversy that surrounds the novel but accurately depicts the perverted thoughts of Humbert Humbert.
Example#10
“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy
“Christ, he said. Oh Christ.”
In “The Road,” there is a constant use of the profanity “Christ”, which emphasizes the character’s desperation and powerlessness.
McCarthy employs such expletives in her book so often because her writing style is rather reductionist, and such an implementation of a shift allows her to express great sorrow in a few words only.
This repetition emphasizes the poor state of affairs in the characters’ relationships and the sincerity of feelings depicted.
See also: Literary Devices That Start With E
Function of Expletive
Expletives perform numerous functions in the language. They provide underlining and personal touch, or, in other words, they enhance critical aspects for showing certain emotions.
In syntax, expletives like ‘there’ and ‘it’ are used to fill up the gaps and ensure the flow of sentences. They can also be used to supply missing information and keep the speakers going in their communication process.
Expletives serve the purposes of varying the lexical and stylistic pattern of texts used in writing and speaking, as a result, yielding higher interest.
For the same reason, they contribute to the realistic features in literature because they imitate real-life conversations, and as such make the characters or particular situations more believable.
See also: Examples of Epistolary in Literature
