What is Reification?
The act of treating an abstract concept as if it were a concrete object.
The Thingification of the Abstract: Understanding Reification in Creative Writing
Reification, put simply, is the act of treating an abstract concept as if it were a concrete object. In creative writing, reification can be a powerful technique, allowing writers to give tangible form to abstract ideas, breathing life and depth into their work. However, it can also be a trap, a crutch for writers who struggle to convey their thoughts with precision and nuance. To avoid such pitfalls, it is essential that writers understand the roots of the term.
Reification comes from the Latin verb 'reificare,' which means to make a thing. The concept was first introduced by Marx and Engels, who used it to describe the process by which social relationships are turned into concrete entities, i.e., capitalism turns workers into objects that are bought and sold. Linguists have since expanded on this idea, using it to describe the process by which language creates the illusion of objective reality.
In creative writing, reification can take many forms, from metaphor and symbolism to personification and allegory. A writer might turn love into a rose, for example, or peace into a dove. When done well, reification can add layers of meaning to a text, allowing readers to engage with complex ideas in a more visceral, intuitive way. But when done poorly, it can come off as cliche or heavy-handed, detracting from the impact of the work.
For writers looking to master the art of reification, it is important to remember that every choice matters. The object chosen should be carefully considered, and should always serve to enhance the underlying meaning of the text. With practice, reification can be a powerful tool, helping writers to transform the abstract into something concrete and meaningful.
Reification might sound like a dense concept, reserved for academia, but the truth is you've probably encountered it in literature more times than you realize. Below are two examples that illustrate just how common this literary device is - one classic, the other contemporary.
In T.S. Eliot's iconic poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the titular character laments his inability to communicate his feelings adequately. Unable to find the right words, he instead focuses on the unremarkable details of the everyday world around him, reified in his own mind, seen through the prism of his own melancholy thoughts. The urban landscape becomes a series of images that embody his feelings: 'Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table.'
Reification is particularly effective in depicting the traumatic memories of a character. In Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner, a boy named Amir watches as his friend Hassan is raped, and does nothing to intervene. The guilt and shame Amir feels is overwhelming, but when he tries to articulate it, the words fail him. Instead, the memory of the assault is transformed in his mind into something tangible: 'And the snow, falling still, darker now, but also splattered with red, turning to mud; his young face red against the whiteness, his jaw open, his eyes closed, lashes frosted with ice.'