Is So Much Swearing in Novels Necessary?

So often in literature today swearing is somewhat lazy -- the easy way out -- and intended to sensationalize. Of course in Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" swearing proves realistic during a war. But then one could argue that it's not all about a writer's word choice but realizing his characters and situations well -- which indicates the language they use. The writer can't make choices about character expression independent of the character's own reality. Swearing in context can enhance a novel and give it the intended reality of the author. But can't one describe the faces of their characters, or depict the hatred of one character for another, and make a clear indication how insulting a fight/argument is between characters without swearing? A writer can offer a description of a character as dirty-mouthed without spelling out the swear words in a given situation.

A reader finds the C-word in D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover." But he employs the word in a manner that makes it a good word. Lawrence isn't trying to provoke the reader with the word...be negative about it...but illustrate how characters using the word revealed their sexual passion. Swearing has to reflect the tone and voice to be necessary. While a writer needs to use some self restraint with swearing in novels, he can't back away from the reality people swear, either. Isn't word choice and diction a totally imperative element of style? I just don't think one can reach literature's higher heights with swearing.

Isn't swearing the likely initial resort of the inarticulate?

I suppose it is a universal concept that so many find swearing offensive. Otherwise, it wouldn't be blanked out so often in assorted media. And yes, swearing may prove useful for strong characterization if appropriate--along with reflecting one more facet of man's character, which all relate to. Literature is about telling the truth. It sort of comes down to common decency: consideration for the sensitive folks (you really don't want to upset those folks turned-off by swearing in print). Although we all agree vulgarity for vulgarity's sake merely offers cheap shock value, the writer still retains the freedom to express himself however he wants.

Swearing basically involves a writer's diction choice and in reality has nothing to do with offending someone or not. It's okay if the writer uses the diction (swearing) appropriately to get his meaning across. In essence, a writer doesn't want to create reader displeasure with swearing's mere shock value. But he also should not totally avoid swearing if deemed appropriate to the subject...unless writing escapist literature. Or for the sake of argument...would it really even be about "escapism?" Maybe literature without swearing reaches the higher heights of literature by designing something greater than duplicating every detail of daily life. Personally, I think the real optimal idea behind good literature is to allow the reader a view that reaches beyond daily life. Perhaps a writer should give his characters much more than realism--an imaginative realism that makes them a lot more real than real. Doesn't that make good art?

Bombastic Gadflies Novel "Blurb"

                                                   DG Farnsworth         
                                                                    
Bombastic Gadflies

Roman a clef (or autobiographical fiction: actual persons or events disguised as fiction) is a potent way to heal the injured mind: you tell without telling. It's therapeutic and touches readers in the same way.

"The father is always a Republican toward his son, and his mother’s always a Democrat" (poet Robert Frost).

"…self starvation expresses hostility, control and aggression toward the family….anorexia nervosa as a struggle for differentiation, identity and self-respect…pointed to defective parenting. Such ideas are now generally accepted as plausible, yet remain unproven" (Vincenzo F. DiNicola)

Myra's dad pockets the largest pool of PAC money of any departing member of Congress, $700-thousand (through a loophole)--by not seeking another congressional term... running for governor, instead. Until the Kentucky governor's race the 13-year Republican congressman's life was never examined with such scrutiny. Congressman Lucas remained one of the biggest abusers of the House Bank's routinely covering overdrafts for insufficient funds--$300-thousand.

Myra's father bought her a horse in fourth grade. She spent her whole life at the barn with it. He bought her a horse because he wanted his kids to grow up around animals or in that kind of environment, rather than in front of a drugstore. But Myra Lucas always acted somewhat twisted, and she had a keen capability of twisting everyone and everything around her.

Myra and her best friend (and neighbor), Royce, worked innumerable horse farms together. He stayed amazed at her ability to get others to clean her stall...feed for her later, or whatever the task. The Persian Gulf war beckoned their racetrack buddy, Stan Winthrop, to play a major role as a pilot. He was missing in Iraq. Persian Gulf remarks about Royce and Myra's lost friend often acted as free publicity for US Representative Carey Lucas, the ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Royce introduced Myra (and lost her) to his lifelong overweight friend, Leila (the wealthy daughter of his mother's eccentric best friend [who both shared dark secrets]). Leila's parents built an extravagant home in Lexington, but was not allowed reside with them and her anorexic sister. Leila was too fat and destroyed the beauty of her "beautiful" family. The things Royce, Myra, and Leila felt successful about their extremely successful parents acted like—is that it?

Like other anorexic nervosa patients, Royce felt the only way he could live was through other people—and viewed that as his justification for being around. The taking away of food (to end his life) was the result of the battle. His fight remained one that starved not only the body but also his soul. He often thought, "How could he be of importance to anyone when he hadn’t made the world perfect for all involved?" Royce VanArsdale began unraveling the biggest lie of his life in California with the VanArsdales....who along with his mother all played a role in the deception.

Myra's dad couldn’t beat his millionaire-horse-breeder opponent politically in the governor's race, but he was going to beat him on the racetrack in the Kentucky Derby… so he thought. But Myra had other ideas.
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