On Writing: Profanity

Matthew Erbst

6/27/11

English AP

Number 3

On Writing: Profanity

As something that always seems to cause a stir in our society, I found Stephen King's view on profanity very thought provoking. Here's what he said: “You'll know which to use [profanity or not] if you know your character....The point is to let each character speak freely, without regard to what the Legion of Decency or the Christian Ladies' Reading Circle. To do otherwise would be cowardly and dishonest,...they [censors] all want basically the same thing: for you to see the world they see...or at least shut up about what you do see that's different. They are agents of status quo. Not necessarily bad guys, but dangerous guys if you happen to believe in intellectual freedoms.”

“As it happens, I agree with my mother: profanity and vulgarity is the language of the ignorant and verbally challenged. Mostly.....”(187) I agree with Stephen King's sentiments entirely. Vulgarity has its place. There are times when vulgarity, profanity, cuss words are entirely appropriate (as much of an oxymoron that may sound) Like King says earlier on, it sounds ridiculous for “Oh sh*t!” to be replaced by “Oh sugar!” for someone like a grizzled old sailor. It removes the reader from the story and sours the work because of that. Only children's authors should have to limit themselves in that fashion. Nor should profanity be used overly so for “shock value” because it is “the language of the ignorant”. If profanity is unnecessary (or just does not fit) and is used, the work once again loses all power. There must be a balance to draw the reader in.

I think this may best be shown with On Writing itself. Stephen King curses in his book quite often, but not to the extent that it seems vulgar or even noticeable. It seems that I am sitting in a room talking to the man, not reading his book. Ultimately, that is what literature should do, bring you into it. Vulgarity, no matter what the “Legion of Decency” might think, is an integral part of society, and stories seem fake or cliché without it. As odd as it may sound, it is vulgar not to use vulgarity if the situation calls for it.