Most readers don't like plots that hinge on the characters being kept apart by "a big misunderstanding". The rationale is if the characters can clear everything up by having a conversation, then they should, so they can resolve the conflict between them.
However, I like when there are misinterpretations.
This is what happens when a character absorbs someone's words or deeds, filters them through their own emotional tender spots—and comes up with an erroneous conclusion.
It's as if the character's emotion decoder ring has gone wonky. The facts are there, clear as day, but the character's inner fears and conflicts skew the information, giving it a completely different meaning than was intended.
This is a genuine source of conflict, even in real life.
For example, you're waiting to hear back on an email, and you start to fret, assuming it never made it to its destination, because your emails always get lost, because the internet hates you. Or worse, maybe it did make it through, but you're sure it got instantly deleted because the recipient hates you, which you've always suspected, but now you know for sure since they're ignoring you.
So you write a scathing, snarky reply, blasting them for being so insensitive, or inept. You're hovering over the "Send" button, ready to click—and oh, what's this? Here's their reply! They're apologizing for taking so long to respond, but it turns out a rogue hurricane took out their internet connection, but they made sure you were the first one they emailed as soon as they were back online.
Whew! Crisis averted. But an emotionally misguided interpretation of those facts could have caused a huge disaster.
Right now I'm reading a book where the hero and heroine were in love ten years previously, but both of them misjudged each others' actions at the time. This caused them to break up, and they've carried around quite a bit of hurt because they could not understand why the person they loved had acted in such a heartless fashion.
Could it have been resolved with a simple conversation? Probably, but they were too immature at the time to realize that. What I like about this particular story is the hero and heroine have that conversation now, in the beginning of the book, so this conflict gets resolved early, allowing them to move on to other ones instead of letting a "misunderstanding" fester for 300+ pages.
What I enjoy is when the character finally discovers how their fears and insecurities made them misjudge things, especially about the person they now love. Working through their issues not only helps them grow and change, it rids them of the emotional filter that caused them to make erroneous assumptions in the first place.
It's as if that wonky decoder ring was recalibrated, giving the hero and heroine a clarity they needed, not only about themselves, but about everything they encounter in the future.
Anyone else a fan of misinterpretations in a story? What are your favorite ones? How were they resolved?
Cool way to look at conflict. Sometimes, it's the little things that trip us up, isn't it?
Posted by: E.C. Smith | May 16, 2011 at 02:42 PM
E.C., you're right about the little things. LOL They can be landmines sometimes! And then sometimes they can be fun little bits like this. :)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 16, 2011 at 03:14 PM
I can't think of any examples, but I like the way the author you're reading handled the situation. For some reason I'm thinking these are the "It's not what it looks like" moments. When he did sort of do what it looks like she thinks he did so he can't 100% deny he did it, and her anger won't let her listen to why it's not what it looks like. LOL!
Yeah, those I can follow. And though I can't think of one in a book, there was a moment like that in Burlesque, which I watched over the weekend.
Posted by: Terri Osburn | May 16, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Oh yeah, the eternal battles of communication...
But you said...!
But I meant...!
But that is wasn't I heard...!
But then you said this!
But that is because I thought you said that...!
So many leves to communication...it's amusing if you can step away from it long enough to handle the misconception of hurt...
I just finished Wild Ride by Crusie and Mayer where the heroine is told something by a seer...now this isn't exactly the same...and I'm not going to explain in case someone wants to read it. But I loved how it magically resolved in ... like the last lines of the book... Beautifully done!
Posted by: Maureen | May 16, 2011 at 04:31 PM
Terri, I haven't finished this book yet, but I have to admit I like the way this was handled and set aside. I've read other books of hers and really liked them, so even though I'm still in the midst of this book, I don't have any fears that she'll disappoint me before I reach The End. :)
You're right about those "it's not what it looks like" moments. LOL People make a judgment based on the info they have, but if they had MORE info, or they weren't carrying around baggage that makes them interpret things one way--it would definitely change the way things look. :)
I wanted to see Burlesque. I'll have to add it to the Netflix queue now!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 16, 2011 at 04:50 PM
Maureen, I haven't read any of the Crusie/Mayer collaborations, but I keep meaning to. I'll add that one to the TBR wing of my house. :)
Misconception and hurt go hand in hand, don't they? LOL Almost a chicken and the egg thing, too. And it's not always miscommunication, which does cause a lot of troubles. It's definitely preconceived ideas of how things SHOULD be, based on past experience.
It's a wonder any couples ever make it. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 16, 2011 at 04:52 PM
Yeah, it's all about our filters...and those are certainly developed from our past experiences.
Even after 30+ years of marriage, I still misinterpret things my husband says and does. But with my investement, we back up and figure it out instead of letting it destroy us. Or just give us a bad day!
Posted by: Maureen | May 16, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Filters make things interesting, since each person in a conversation, or relationship, has them. LOL I like that you "back up and figure it out", which is why you've got 30+ years of marriage. :) Other folks might dig in their heels and forget what's important.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 16, 2011 at 06:58 PM
How did you know the internet hates me? :) I do like a misinterpretation plot when it's well done. Thanks for yet another great post :)
Posted by: Clarissa Southwick | May 16, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Clarissa, nooo -- the internet can't hate you! You're too nice! (I'm sure you totally misinterpreted the internet's intentions. LOL)
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2011 at 01:00 AM
I like the misinterpretation in "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" - in which it is a mis-TRANSLATION (of a secret language with nuance) that tears apart a lifelong friendship.
Although the two friends don't discover the mistake until it's almost too late, I love the conflict (both literal and emotional) that it creates.
Posted by: julie gardner | May 17, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Julie, that sounds like a wonderful example, with very powerful conflict. How have I not read that yet? :) Thank you for sending that one my way.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2011 at 05:29 PM
I love a good misinterpretation, but I'm with you on dragging it out too long. This happens to me IRL all the time so it rings true for fiction too.
Posted by: Kari Marie | May 17, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Kari Marie -- LOL about the real life misinterpretations going on too long. I know what you mean. Sometimes that's the down side of being a writer. I can imagine all the horrible interpretations of events so easily!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 17, 2011 at 08:52 PM
I could use a decoder ring in real life!
I like to read believable misrepresentations and conflicts. When you understand a character emotionally, then I think the misrepresentations make more sense.
Posted by: Liz Fichera | May 18, 2011 at 08:44 AM
Liz, I could use one too! I think that's why I love when somebody misinterprets another's words or actions -- because we constantly do it in real life. And it isn't done maliciously. We just make certain assumptions and then it goes downhill from there. LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 18, 2011 at 09:08 AM
This is a great point! I like the little misinterpretations, but a big silly one is never good!
Posted by: JennW | May 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Jenn, it's usually the smaller things that get misinterpreted, and then hackles rise, etc. Like online when somebody thinks somebody else meant THIS, when they meant THAT. LOL Wars can start over something small like that.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 18, 2011 at 11:48 AM