Profanity in modern literature: Is it necessary?
What is Profanity
Profanity, or 'swear words', are words that are not usually socially acceptable in polite conversation. They can be words that we aim to prevent young ears from hearing and then repeating. Swear words can also be used to express anger, or even humour in casual circles.
Historical Swear Words
Let us go back in time a couple hundred years. A lot, and I mean a LOT, of profanity wasn't just a rude word. Unless it was describing a body part or 'shameful act', at least in religious communities and cultures, a swear word was usually a blasphemous word.
E.g.
Gadzooks: An old English oath derived from "God's hooks," referring to the nails used in the crucifixion of Christ. This expletive was used as a mild expression of surprise or frustration.
Fie: A word expressing disapproval or disgust, commonly used in medieval literature and conversation. It was a strong rebuke, akin to calling something shameful or disgraceful.
Coxcomb: An insult meaning "fool" or "simpleton," derived from the word for a jester's cap. In William Shakespeare’s King Lear, the Fool calls Oswald a "coxcomb" as a way of mocking his foolishness
Current Use
Over time, some words that were once considered shocking have become more accepted, while others remain taboo. When a bare toe is stubbed on hard concrete, or a finger jammed into a car door, the usual word that bursts forth isn’t likely to be PG rated. When an author is trying to capture the reaction of a character, a challenging incident becomes believable when the reactions and dialogue are true to life. Which, for this writer at least, includes a whole symphony of curse words.
In conclusion
My unsolicited opinion is simply thus: storytelling can be both a made up and also a factual account of the world around us. When an author can capture the essence of their subject, whether it be a real person, fictional character, or perhaps even a place, profanity has its place. In the same way an image can speak volumes without any words at all, profanity can convey a whole paragraph's worth of feelings, frustrations, physical pain released like a cork with a single word.
What about you?
Do you know of any old swear words? Does current censorship go too far? Or is more censorship required? Who are the top offending authors on your bookshelf? Let us hear your thoughts below.
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