Function of Character - Epiphany

One way to develop sophistication is to look at how characters have complex awareness in a literary work. One of the central ways of achieving this is through recognizing a character as having an epiphany. In literature, an epiphany refers to a moment of sudden revelation or realization experienced by a character. It is often a profound insight that leads to a deeper understanding of oneself, others, or the world.

Image note: To the right is the painting Chez le père Lathuille (At the Père Lathuille Restaurant) by Édouard Manet, painted in 1879. Which character in this painting seems to be having an epiphany? Is there anything in the man's expression that suggests his inner thinking?

Examples of Epiphany

Here are three scenarios from popular culture that illustrate the concept of epiphany:

In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has a poignant epiphany when she realizes that her acts of defiance against the Capitol during the Hunger Games inspire unity and rebellion among the districts, transforming her understanding of her role from a mere pawn to a symbol of resistance.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry experiences a transformative epiphany when he discovers the Mirror of Erised, realizing that it shows the deepest desires of his heart and teaches him the importance of acceptance and self-awareness.
In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker undergoes a profound epiphany when he realizes the destructive power of his own anger and chooses compassion over aggression, leading to the redemption of his father, Anakin Skywalker, who has taken on the role of Darth Vader.

Origins of Epiphany

Often the change in a character emerges directly from a conflict of values represented in the narrative. Changes in a character’s circumstances may lead to changes in that character. While characters can change gradually over the course of a narrative, they can also change suddenly as the result of a moment of realization, known as an epiphany. An epiphany allows a character to see things in a new light and is often directly related to a central conflict of the narrative. An epiphany may affect the plot by causing a character to act on his or her sudden realization.

Practice Activity

At this point, we will consider how the idea of an epiphany is present in Chekov’s “Lady with the Pet Dog.”

Read the following two paragraphs and consider how they form an epiphany:

His hair was already beginning to turn grey. And it seemed strange to him that he had grown so much older, so much plainer during the last few years. The shoulders on which his hands rested were warm and quivering. He felt compassion for this life, still so warm and lovely, but probably already not far from beginning to fade and wither like his own. Why did she love him so much? He always seemed to women different from what he was, and they loved in him not himself, but the man created by their imagination, whom they had been eagerly seeking all their lives; and afterwards, when they noticed their mistake, they loved him all the same. And not one of them had been happy with him. Time passed, he had made their acquaintance, got on with them, parted, but he had never once loved; it was anything you like, but not love.

And only now when his head was grey he had fallen properly, really in love -- for the first time in his life.

Read each analysis phrase. Before turning the card over, write a brief analysis of the epiphany. The back of the card contains a sample analysis that you can compare to your own.

Sample Analysis Paragraph

Finally, consider the power of the last sentence in the passage. Not only do the word choices reflect an epiphany, but also its syntax conveys this idea.

Here is an example of how a student could write an entire paragraph about this one sentence.

The word choice and syntax in this line convey a sense of revelation and personal transformation, suggesting an epiphany for the character. The use of the phrase "And only now when his head was grey" implies a significant passage of time, emphasizing the maturity and reflection that comes with aging. The specific choice of the term "grey" for his head adds a visual and symbolic layer, representing the wisdom and experience that accompanies the aging process. The syntax, particularly the structure of the sentence, contributes to the impact of the revelation. The placement of "only now" at the beginning of the sentence creates a strong emphasis, highlighting the belated nature of the character's experience. The subsequent phrase "he had fallen properly, really in love" employs adverbs that intensify the depth and authenticity of the newfound emotion, reinforcing the idea that this is a profound and genuine epiphany. The concluding phrase "for the first time in his life," serves as a definitive statement, underlining the uniqueness and significance of this moment. The careful arrangement of words and the use of adverbs contribute to the overall tone of realization, making it clear that the character has arrived at a profound understanding of love at a particular juncture in his life, marking a transformative epiphany.

Reflection

This lesson has shown that by training yourself to write in-depth about single lines or moments in a literary work, you are developing a more sophisticated and complex literary analysis.

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