Allusion is a literary style that is categorized as a figure of speech. It is used to refer to or represent or refer to particular, person, place, other literary works, and works of art or even myths. This could occur in a piece of literature either directly or indirectly. When used in literary works, the comparison is usually slightly hidden and the reader is expected to make the connection by themselves. At times the author may use personal language making the allusion quite difficult to make out or even not noticeable to the reader. Allusion can therefore be concretely said to be a stylistic device for reference.
Allusions function to stimulate ideas. The reader is prompted by the allusions into having more ideas into a situation that is being described. This helps the author in the buildup of the story. The allusion also enables a person to create mental pictures of the scene being described. This enables the audience to better understand the scenario being described. Researchers such as William Irwin state that allusion is a one direction style in the sense that if one object alludes to another, the object being alluded to cannot be used in a reverse manner. For instance, allusion may be made on the bible by an author such as Shakespeare but no allusions to Shakespeare can be acquired from the bible. There exists several types of references that can be listed as being allusions. These include Casual reference, which is the literary use of language that utilizes a particular antecedent in a more general manner. In other words it is of less importance to the context of use. There is also a single reference type of allusion. In this case, the reader is made to recall a particular use of the example from another source.
This paper will consider two books that have extensively utilized this literary device in their development. These books are William Godwin’s “Caleb Williams” and Alan Moore’s, “watchmen”. The paper will consider allusion to Alexander the Great as utilized in both books. Additionally, the paper will also look at the reasons for the use of these allusions, giving examples and their importance. The paper will also give comparisons on the means of allusion as applied in both texts.
In Alan Moore’s book, The Watchmen, Moore brings to the fore two characters, Ozymandias and Rorschach. These two characters have striking differences with a single similarity between them. Being the core characters, they are used to bring out the allusion to Alexander the great. Ozymandias is described as being handsome, powerful as well as a public figure that is rich; on the other hand Rorschach is private, poor, as well as ugly physically. The main character, Ozymandias is obsessed by Alexander the great.
In the Watchmen, the author gives an insight into Ozymandias’ thoughts and adoration of Alexander the great. In chapter twelve of the book, Ozymandias, narrates his life story to three men who are working with him. Ozymandias’ exalts the fact that there is only one man in the world that he has ever felt to be in relations with. He calls the man Alexander of Macedonia. He describes Alexander as a young commander of the army who died after being the ruler of the world’s most advanced civilization.
In further allusion to Alexander the great, Ozymandias awes himself by stating that he is able to rule without any sense of barbarism. In comparison to Alexander the great, he states that he had installed the utmost learning seat. This is in comparison to the achievements of Alexander the great. Additionally, in reference to Alexander the great, Ozymandias says that ‘true, people died; perhaps unnecessarily, though who can judge such things?’(Volume 11, page 8). This is a clear indication of the fact that Ozymandias thinks acts of high magnitude cannot stand to be judged as he compares himself to the great conqueror Alexander the great. In further allusion to Alexander the great, the author gives an insight into Ozymandias’ trip to Alexander the Great’s hometown. Ozymandias states that he had resolved to teachings that were based on antiquities in the present world. He states that, that was the beginning of his path to conquest. He describes the conquest as not being that of conquering men but of conquering evil that was rampant among men (volume 11, page 11). This is in direct reference to Alexander the Great and his conquests all over the world.
Ozymandias just like Alexander the great justifies his means by the results achieved by his actions. The author gives reference to Ozymandias’ plot to send and alien creature to New York that would kill almost half the people who live there. This is all in an attempt to pacify the governments and convince them of an impending attack from other worlds. Just like Alexander the Great, this was a terrible means of achieving an end.
Ideally, Ozymandias’ visionary quest is also in itself an allusion to Alexander the Great. From the comic, it is evident that the conqueror Alexander the Great had a great influence on the young Ozymandias and he idolized him. Consequently, Ozymandias borrows on his vision to make up his own. Ozymandias’ personality also brings in the allusion to Alexander the Great where he is of the belief that he has the wisdom and power that was wielded by Alexander the Great and that he is also strategically positioned to unite the modern world just as Alexander the great did in his time.
Several allusions are made to Alexander the great in William Godwin’s, ‘Caleb Williams ’. Godwin’s book is an exploration into the relationships that exist among humans as well as institutions that at times may be irreconcilable. The protagonist Caleb Williams is faced by challenges such as false accusations, inhuman hunting down as well as being framed. All that Caleb experiences lead him to question the virtues that he has been brought up knowing. Caleb is set on an investigative quest and only hopes to make it alive until the next time as things get thick for him and his life gets in danger. Caleb is depicted as a poor and intelligent person. He gets a job as a secretary for a squire, Ferdinand Falkland. Falkland is regarded as a man who is highly refined, in contrast to Caleb. A neighbor falls into conflict with Falkland and is later found murdered. But due to the refinement of Falkland, the blame is shifted to two farmers who are found guilty and hanged for the crime. Caleb finally ends up investigating the crime and unearths the horrific truth that Falkland is the criminal (Fludernik 200).
Several instances of allusion to Alexander the Great are depicted in the story. First Caleb says, “Pray Sir..how came Alexander of Macedonia to be surnamed the Great?”Caleb floats this question to get his masters perception of the great ruler of antiquity. He would like to know Falkland’s views on the atrocities committed by Alexander the great. Caleb further adds how Alexander the Great sacrificed thousands of men for his fame as well as the spread of atrocities in all places that he visited. Falkland minimizes the crimes by stating that the lives of a thousand men is at first astounding but then compares the lives of those thousand men to a thousand sheep . This allusion brings out the ominous nature of Falkland despite his refinement. This in fact raises suspicions on Caleb's point of view that his master could have as well committed the crime (Daffron 150).
At another point in the story, Falkland responds to Caleb’s query on Alexander the Great. Falkland assures Caleb that if he examines deeply, he will find qualities of greatness, honor as well as generosity in men like Alexander the Great. Additionally, he thinks that Alexander the Great is a promoter of liberal thinking as well as unequalled grandness in how he conducted himself in his activities (Bour 100).
Falkland further alludes to Alexander the Great by saying that he emancipated the Asians from “Stupidity and degradation” by the Persians, thereby he civilized mankind in that part of the world. This allusion is made by Falkland in an attempt to show Caleb that he is unrefined and uncivilized and just like Alexander the Great civilized the Asians and emancipated them from the bondage of stupidity and degradation, he would do the same for Caleb.
The allusions have been made for several reasons. First both authors have eluded to Alexander the great to show the self justification of characters’ actions within their stories. For instance, Ozymandias justifies his evil actions by alluding to Alexander the Great, his idol. On the other hand, Falkland is convinced that his actions are actions of greatness comparable to those of the great leader, Alexander the Great.
Further, the allusions are used to clearly bring out the fact that, heroes’ actions are not justifiable, regardless of the end results. The authors give their characters assumptions alluding to Alexander the Great, a hero of adage. His actions complement those of the characters, massive loss of life in the pretext of emancipation. Both Ozymandias and Falkland believe that their actions, just like those of Alexander the great will serve the greater good in the final end (Roe 334).
Additionally, the allusions are used to develop the character traits of the characters in both stories. It is evident that both Ozymandias and Falkland have a superiority complex and feel that they occupy a higher state of existence above other humans. Consequently, they place themselves on a pedestal pivoted by comparisons to Alexander the Great (Di Liddo 100).
In conclusion, both Goodwin and Moore have effectively used allusion to dramatically develop characters that show the effects of superiority complexes, especially people with power, money and status within the society. This is often abused and ends up having a detrimental effect in the society which might not be easily seen as it is usually concealed using their control over the government.
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