In literature, decorum plays a crucial role in maintaining the harmony between a character’s language, behavior, and social status, as well as the tone of the narrative. It ensures that actions, dialogues, and settings align with the expectations of the genre, theme, or historical period being represented. Writers have long relied on decorum to lend credibility and appropriateness to their characters and plots. The concept is not just about politeness or good manners it encompasses the idea of fittingness or suitability in all aspects of storytelling. From ancient Greek drama to modern novels, the idea of what is proper and fitting has shaped the way characters are developed and how scenes unfold. This topic explores notable examples of decorum in literature and explains how authors skillfully employ this concept to engage readers and enhance their narratives.
Understanding Decorum in Literary Context
Decorum in literature refers to the appropriateness of style to subject. It ensures that the tone, diction, and behavior of characters are consistent with the setting and genre. This principle was especially emphasized in classical and neoclassical literature but remains relevant in contemporary writing. Decorum helps preserve believability and coherence, guiding readers to engage more fully with the story.
Key Functions of Decorum
- Establishing credibilityWhen characters behave in ways consistent with their social roles, the narrative feels more realistic.
- Maintaining genre conventionsEach literary genre has expectations for tone and language. Tragedies are serious; comedies often involve light-hearted wit.
- Supporting thematic coherenceAppropriate language and actions enhance the theme’s expression and emotional resonance.
Examples of Decorum in Classical Literature
Homer’s Iliad
In Homer’s Iliad, warriors like Achilles and Hector speak in noble, elevated language that matches their heroic roles. The tone is grave and formal, aligning with the tragic and epic nature of the story. There is no place for comic relief or casual language in the heat of battle. This consistency in tone and speech is a prime example of classical decorum.
Aristotle’s Poetics
Although not a fictional work, Aristotle’s Poetics set the groundwork for the literary use of decorum. He argued that characters should act in ways appropriate to their status and the story’s tone. A king should behave like a king dignified and measured while a servant might be excused for a more familiar or humorous tone.
Shakespeare’s Mastery of Decorum
Tragedy Macbeth
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the language is rich with dark imagery and formal poetic structure, reflecting the gravity of the play’s themes ambition, fate, and guilt. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, both of noble rank, speak in heightened, rhythmic verse. Their speech mirrors their royal status and the tragic tone of the play. Humor, when present, is delegated to the Porter, a lower-class character, whose drunken rambling offers a brief reprieve without undermining the drama.
Comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream
In contrast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream features various social classes using different tones. The Athenian nobles speak in refined verse, while the mechanicals (craftsmen) speak in prose and engage in humorous misunderstandings. The shift in diction reflects their social positions and the light-hearted tone of the play. This variation demonstrates Shakespeare’s sophisticated control of decorum.
Decorum in the Neoclassical Period
Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock
Pope’s mock-epic poem is a brilliant example of using decorum to satirical effect. He applies the elevated style of epic poetry typically reserved for grand themes like war or gods to a trivial social dispute over a lock of hair. The humor arises precisely because of the deliberate mismatch, drawing attention to the absurdity of aristocratic vanity. Still, even this subversion relies on an understanding of classical decorum to be effective.
Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels
Swift’s travel narrative uses irony and formal language to reflect and criticize the customs and values of contemporary society. Each voyage maintains decorum within its own context Lilliputians are small-minded and bureaucratic, while Houyhnhnms are rational and stoic. The consistency of tone within each society helps Swift expose and mock real-world issues without breaking the narrative flow.
Romanticism and Shifting Views of Decorum
During the Romantic period, writers began to challenge strict ideas of decorum. Emotions, nature, and individuality were elevated over societal expectations. However, even within this rebellion, elements of decorum persisted in how characters interacted with the sublime or expressed personal truths.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
In Frankenstein, Victor’s language is elevated and reflective, mirroring his role as a man of science and ambition. The creature, too, speaks with surprising eloquence, especially during his philosophical monologues. This use of refined language emphasizes the tragedy of the creature’s isolation and enhances the novel’s somber tone. While Shelley bends decorum by allowing a monster to speak with such dignity, it serves a thematic purpose rather than disrupts the narrative.
Modern Examples of Decorum
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald carefully distinguishes between the refined language of characters like Gatsby and Nick, and the coarser tones of characters like Myrtle or Tom. This linguistic decorum reflects the novel’s themes of class division, ambition, and illusion. Gatsby’s affected elegance is part of his constructed persona, while Tom’s bluntness reveals his brutish entitlement. Through decorum, Fitzgerald highlights the contrasts that define the social landscape of the 1920s.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
Lee’s novel also makes effective use of decorum. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and moral compass of the story, speaks in calm, respectful tones even when confronting deep prejudice. His decorum underlines his integrity. Meanwhile, the children’s speech is informal and curious, appropriate for their ages and perspectives. The variation in speech among characters adds realism and emphasizes social roles in 1930s Alabama.
Why Decorum Still Matters
While modern literature is often more flexible with style and tone, decorum remains a powerful tool. It ensures characters speak and act in ways that reflect their world and roles. When used intentionally, it enhances immersion, strengthens themes, and deepens readers’ emotional responses. Even in works that challenge or subvert traditional norms, an awareness of decorum can enrich the narrative.
Writers’ Strategic Use of Decorum
- Highlighting contrastDeliberate violations of decorum can signal disruption, rebellion, or satire.
- Developing voiceConsistent speech patterns help define character identity and growth.
- Controlling toneMaintaining appropriate tone guides reader expectations and reactions.
Decorum in literature is far more than a set of outdated rules it’s a dynamic concept that helps authors shape their narratives, characters, and themes. From ancient epics to contemporary novels, examples of decorum illustrate how the right tone, language, and behavior contribute to a story’s coherence and impact. Whether applied faithfully or subverted for effect, decorum remains a valuable literary principle that continues to influence how stories are told and received.