Ambiguity in Film and Literature

"Nothing in this world has only one side to it" (Potok 344). This quote from The Gift of Asher Lev tells how ambiguity is present in everything. Ambiguity is especially present in literature and film as is shown in the seeds of evil in Othello and Cool Hand Luke, as well as in the pastoral setting of As You Like It.

In As You Like It the pastoral setting adds ambiguity. The characters have fewer worries in the forest, but they miss their old lives. They are able to return to a more primitive and simple life but they loose what they enjoyed about their lives in the city. Many of the characters find love in the forest and that makes them happy. They are happy without the problems they had in the city and the feel more relaxed. It is not all good though because the characters miss the city because they knew what was going to happen and they did not have to predict how the next day would be because most days were the same. This ambiguity about the forest causes them to be unaware of which they truly like better. The feelings the characters have about the pastoral setting are the main source of ambiguity in the play As You Like It.

In Othello the seed of evil is the most ambiguous part of the play. Iago is most often labeled as the seed of evil because of his actions to destroy Othello's life. However, Othello is another possibility for the seed of evil because of his quick acceptance and belief of everything Iago told him. If Othello had been more hesitant when he heard what Othello told him he may have avoided the tragic deaths that occur at the end of the play. When Iago tells Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful he needs only a small amount of persuasion to convince Othello and cause him to cry out, "O, blood, blood, blood!" in his anger (Othello 3.3.512). Because Othello's trust of Iago causes the tragic ending of the play Othello's trust may be considered the seed of evil. Iago also plays and important role in causing the tragic ending by introducing the idea of Desdemona's unfaithfulness to Othello and working to destroy his life. Iago tells Roderigo of his hatred for Othello saying "I have told thee often, and I will tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him" (Othello 1.3.406-411). His plan for revenge is how Iago is shown as the seed of evil. The ambiguity in Othello is seen in the different possibilities of the seed of evil.
In Cool Hand Luke the seed of evil is the source of ambiguity. The seed of evil could be either Luke's feelings or the pressure of the prisoners. Luke wants to be accepted by the other prisoners and to earn their acceptance he risks his own safety. He begins by eating fifty eggs on a bet, and when he is accepted by all the prisoners after this he continues to do more things to keep them amused. He also entertains the prisoners when they are given the task of tarring a road, which would normally take the full day. Luke encourages the prisoners to get done quickly, saying "Get the man" (Rosenberg). Luke continues to entertain the prisoners with his escapes, sending them pictures while he is away and telling the prisoners stories about his adventures once he is recaptured. Because Luke tries so hard to be accepted by the other prisoners he is eventually killed when he is caught after his third escape. The seed of evil in the film could also be the prisoners because of the pressure they put on Luke to do what he does. If they did not live through him he would have been able to be accepted without escaping and without eventually being killed. Luke's frustration with the prisoners is shown when he says "Stop feedin' off me" when he is returned to the prison after his second escape (Rosenberg). The ambiguity of Cool Hand Luke is shown through the seed of evil in the film.

Ambiguity can be seen in everything, it is shown in As You Like It, Othello, and Cool Hand Luke. The presence of ambiguity in the literature and film can be seen in the tragic and romantic elements of the works. These examples of ambiguity show how the same thing can be seen different ways to come to different conclusions.