Visiting Naïfs
The Secret Society Of Naïfs In My Closet
For over a dozen years I’ve had “naïfs’’ on the top shelf hanging out in the word closet of a book I wrote. They won’t be having a coming out party when their books sashays out. However, in that moment, the tinkle of champagne glasses and laughter will be heard across 267 of years within the Secret Society of Story Narrators.
They each have their own special stemware ready, as they’ll eagerly offer up a vessel for their share of the bubbly. Candide, the most wealthy of them will show off his tall elegant spiraling air twist stem and regale the others with a made up tale of watching Bohemian Moser flex his skills as a champagne flute glass blowing creator.
Meanwhile the most stubborn of all of them, Holden Caulfield, still rigid in his most rebellious and defiant ways, would merely offer his cupped hands in obvious rejection of societal norms. The others would already be alert to his moods . . . They’d all sigh and be glad he didn’t offer his shoe, a hat, or even some tattered and dirty book dust jacket from his 1st edition.
His nonconformist tendencies and disdain for tradition had them all scrambling to move out of his line of uncorking the champagne of disapproval spittle fire, just in case he got all impulsive and unpredictable. None of them having forgotten the last time anyone dared to celebrate posthumous character popularity successes when he blurt out:
“Call me Ishmael, because I’m about to puke this champagne into the nearest character spitoon in protest of the bourgeoisie! This golden poison represents everything I despise. Watch as I expose its emptiness.” — Imaginary toast by Holden Caulfield with the 1951 dust jacket being his wadded up cup. — Jerilee Wei © 2024
At that pronouncement, Huckleberry and Forrest were the first to abandon their seats at the Round Table Discussion of Narrators. Mama Gump’s teachings, Forrest’s innocent gentle nature dictated a running skedaddle from the scene of becoming a cold and fizzy offensive victim of Holden’s truth serum spew. And while Huckleberry might have been a tad rough and uncouth, he being kind-hearted and having his own moral sense of right and wrong also quickly got on the other side of the white washed fence of slaked lime.
Guest By Invitation Only Round Table Discussion Of Narrators
Of course I couldn’t help but immediately RSVP to my personal invitation. However, I did request more than a few plus ones to sit at the table. That’s OK, because their life journeys in real life were private and only theirs to be told. It’s never cool to out anyone. Their identities are safe with me.
Nevertheless, their stories, poems, secrets, lessons, and voices will be heard on that we have agreed upon. I protect them from a somewhat cruel world we all now live in. They’ve elected to remain forever in the rainbow-colored company of Nellie, Huckleberry, Holden, Forrest, Pi, Alex, Edgar, and Candide. I can’t think of a bigger honor than that one thing. They are but a few of the enduring and most famous book characters that we all still love.
RSVP By Invitation Only Round Table Discussion Of Narrators
Imagine being invited to the celebratory party — You never know why you get an invitation to a party. Perhaps it’s because I believe that labeling all naïfs as unreliable is unfair and egregious simplistic over simplication bad habit in assigning labels to others is in real life. I think it’s as contagious as any disease. It occurs to me I might get to sit at one of the round tables for that reason.
Naivety Doesn’t Equal Unreliability
Briefly, let’s first look at the definition and backstory of the word “naïfs.” Anyone familiar with my writing, likely knows I ramble on and on in the world of Old French poem forms so it stands to reason that I know that:
Naïf comes from the old French word “naïfs,” hence the reason I use that spelling. The word originated like all words from Romance languages from Latin. That means it comes with the word “nātīvus.” Nātīvus is defined as meaning — born, innate, natural. Naïf can be used as a noun or an adjective.
When as authors we can use it to depict a person who is inexperienced, innocent, or credulous. That makes the word “naive” another spin off of the original old French word too. Today, there is an expression about only “knowing what you know at the time you know it “— translating in Gen Z speak to iykyk being an excuse or an alibi for being easily deceived, uneducated, under educated, or uninformed. Which is quite valid considering our educational system in the country.
Labels Are Dangerous And Rude In Real Life And In Writing
When we use this assigned label in writing as an adjective, it’s more about being innocent and being simple when it comes to certain life situations. Doesn’t mean they are untrustworthy or dumb, just usually means they are too trusting. At different points in all of our lives we the lack of experience puts all of us under that label. Lack of worldliness doesn’t mean we don’t also grow as we gain knowledge.
Just like all “labels” there is no one-size-fits-all t-shirt with the nuances of character traits that can be assigned to a person and how they handle a situation. Authors need to think about how this too fits into the context of the story. It’s a lot about embracing this unique tool using such a POV character and how that can be important in telling the “real” story at the deepest level.
Confusion for Writers
Like anyone with a formal invitation to be a guest at a special occasion, I want my body of work fashion statement to reflect my true self and show up on the red carpet of publishing without limiting my creativity. At the same time, I don’t want to see my character plus ones surrounded by hateful stereotyping and bias. None of us want the label “naïfs” to also mean missed opportunities when it comes the deeper moments of a story themes — trust, betrayal, disillusionment, and personal growth. That’s the very reasons that the timeless stories and characters I’ve alluded to in this, have endured and and gone on to become some of the most captivating life stories ever told.
So if you are sitting with me at your own RSVP moment, I want you to know that while the use of “naïfs” is not limiting — it can be extremely freeing. By embracing the complexities of using this type of character POV, you too can unlock the most powerful storytelling opportunities.
Give what you write a fresh perspective through the eyes of innocence. Let them wear a corsage or boutonnière of irony and humor highlighting the God awful absurdity of real life situations. Allow your characters to carry the whiffs of perfumed empathy and growth. Their audience of readers might be humbled as they finish the last chapter. Ultimately, hopefuly leaving them with more personal reflection on their own understanding of the world.
Raise Your Plot Development Champagne Flute Toast To New Levels Of Masterful Word Spinning
Lastly, in defense of taking the negative out of what some label views of naïfs can make, here’s a new congratulatory Santé! Use the use of innocent naïfs curiosity and naive trust to create conflict and move your narrative along in action. There’s moral compasses to be found in terms of a naïfs knowing the difference between right and wrong, and the consequences of actions and even inaction that lead to growth.
Alternatively, the naïfs POV can lead to wonderful avenues of extraordinary circumstances by introducing fantastical elements that allow for the reader to step into imaginary worlds they might not ever considered exploring before. Those Harry Potter Ron Wesley moments and Bella Swan’s failure to understand the dangers of vampires all speak to how important the naïfs POV is.
When Is Having A Naïf’s POV Necessary?
As I prepare to leave this imaginary round table celebration, I say to my companions in the real writing life world, having a naïfs POV is definitely appropriate for your:
- Coming-of-Age Stories
- Social Commentary Stories
- Fantastical Settings
They are wonderful foils for effective writing and for throwing off the pitfall nightcap of avoiding stereotype labeling. While they require careful thought and mindfulness, naïfs can be exactly what your characters need — in terms of engaging readers, fostering empathy, and prompting much needed reflection on the complexities of the world we are experiencing today.
When The Last Chapter Is Written Time To Leave The Party
Remember, the effectiveness of a naïf character depends on careful execution. Avoiding stereotypes and ensuring realistic development are crucial. However, when used thoughtfully, the naïf can be a beneficial way for engaging readers, fostering empathy, and prompting reflection on the complexities of the world.
“Silence s’il vous plait! Whimsical dreamers and wide-eyed word wanderers. Tonight we celebrated the naifs amongst us! Let’s also not forget the others. From Camelot’s halls to Narnia’s snowy slopes, you might not be here except in spirit, but you did bring a touch of wonder to a world oft-weary of cynicism.
Fondness should include Pippi and her stiff braids while she embraced her inner neuro divergent inner quirks. Or that Dorothy might have left Kansas with her dog, a lion, a tin man, and a scarecrow in her red slippers, but her courage in the face of everything unknown became a big lesson to all of us. She was right, there’s no place like home, but she also spoke to how the journey to get there was quite magical.
May all of us in our unwavering pursuit of ideals remind ourselves that the world needs a touch of madness to keep it spinning. And to all the naifs yet to be written, real or imagined, who stumble daily and soar through life with open hearts and curious minds — may your naivety not be mistaken for weakness, but be the launch pad of your own unique and invaluable experiences and perspectives. À votre santé!” — Love Bug Bites — Jerilee Wei © 2024
Raise your champagne glasses, a flagon, a teacup, coffee mug, to the naifs of the world! But leave your shoes and use the Pot à crachatsat at the door — I’m talking to the whole clan of you — Holdens! May your journeys instead be filled with wonder, your heart with renewed kindness, and your laughter and compassion become contagious joy.
“Remember, dear naïfs, while the world may sometimes try to clip your word wings, never forget the magic you carry within. For it is that very naivety that allows you to see the world not as it is, but as it could be. And that, my writing friends, is a truly powerful thing.” — Jerilee Wei © 2024