Dichotomy in Sold

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Something I noticed a lot of in Sold that I want to discuss is dichotomy. I always find dichotomy interesting when I find it because contrast is such an intentional written tool, and it can be so powerful. I have seen it a few times this semester, but in Sold, I think dichotomy is one of its biggest strengths. +2 Nerd Points to anyone who can point out dichotomy in the other novels we have read together.

First off, let me explain what dichotomy is for anyone who has not heard of it. It is not a literary element that gets a ton of attention. In literature, dichotomy is when two contrasting things exist together. I'm using the word "things" because dichotomy can be found in a lot of places: characterization, conflict, structure, diction... W. W. Jacobs is really good at it. I've been teaching "The Monkey's Paw" to my middle school clinical students this week, and we have discussed it being cold outside and warm inside (where the characters are -- an example of dichotomy use in setting), a character holding his wife's hand in comfort (a sad time) like he held it when he was courting her (a happy time),  and so many other instances, but there are a couple examples for you.

 In Sold, dichotomy is most prevalently present in its structure, but I have noticed it in a few other places like the contrast between real and not real or real and "nightmares" on page 123, and the sound of "the pock of a rubber ball as the children shout and play" as unimaginable things happen to Lakshmi inside on page 127. 

As I said in class when we were discussing our thoughts, Sold is such a beautifully written book about horrible, horrible things. Poetry is one of the most beautiful forms of writing, and what happens to Lakshmi is one of the worst things that can happen to a human. Why this dichotomy in plot and structure?

I have two ideas: First, I think the beautiful writing can make the horrible things a little easier to digest for the reader, as bad as that sounds. This is important fiction, but this content is painful and triggering. The quick read made it a little easier to read, although I had to put the book down at times. Second, the beautiful writing can make the difficult things hit that much harder. That is a big reason I had to put the book down at times. I think the author may want these things to hit hard to make people aware of the very real existence of human trafficking. 

Interestingly, my ideas are dichotomic in nature.

Comments

  1. Kels SalernoOctober 4, 2020 at 10:13 AM

    Todd, you never disappoint with the blog posts! You explain dichotomy so well, and the examples you referred to were so great, I even went back to the pages you mentioned. I agree that the way this book was written makes for an easier read. I, too, had to put the book down, especially when the first man visited Lakshmi. It was so challenging to read something so horrible happening to someone.

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  2. Mikayla TaylorOctober 5, 2020 at 8:50 AM

    Todd, I really like how you highlight dichotomy in the novel. I think that McCormick does a great job of highlighting the dichotomy seen in the novel. I also think that by having the novel written in verse, it makes it easier for students to read and pick up on the dichotomy in the novel.

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