When it comes to communicating I am not the most accomplished. Speaking is hard. It’s easy to make mistakes and it’s inevitable to misunderstand others. Communication, after all, is a skill. Some technicalities come with it, which can be difficult to overcome.
Yet the comicality of the “miscommunication” trope within fiction is beyond comparison. Every conflict that comes from this trope, to my dismay, could be easily resolved with straightforward communication.
The trope, completely overrated, overused, and misused, is a plague in books, shows, and anything its foul hands may touch. The trope is rarely done well. In fact, it often leads to misunderstandings that only detract away from a story. It creates a situation completely unnecessary that takes away the authenticity of a narrative or character, when it is used as the primary conflict in the plot.
There’s a show in particular where miscommunication is rampant: “Gilmore Girls”. In the very few episodes I did watch, it was clear that the girls could not communicate, AT ALL. Most of the problems they faced stemmed from their avoidance of conversations.
Moreover, like in any trope there are subgenres that come with it. The worst of it all comes when a character while overhearing a conversation, leaves before it’s finished, not staying for the most important part of the conversation. They depart before all the context is revealed and assume only the worst. In such circumstances, they are undeniably pulling at straws, which makes the conflict feel forced. Apparently, dramatization is all that matters to this trope.
Even though it is completely hypocritical of me to dig at others’ inability to speak up, it is completely warranted. The miscommunication that arises in novels is beyond any reality that exists (only sort of exaggerating). Usually, miscommunication involves the catalyzation of a great tragedy. It serves to fuel conflict and strife. And it can also be the root of the cause detrimental to the relationship between two unassuming characters.
While there may be some overlap in reality, as miscommunication is prevalent also in society, it is too frustrating of a trope to ever be fully successful. To me, the trope alludes to immaturity and a lack of awareness. If the characters cannot approach a subject with maturity, it becomes hard to engage. It spoils the narrative when this is the only altercation that can take place.
I cannot seem to understand why it is so common as a trope. If it is so important and so impactful to the plot, why would you make it so frustrating and annoying?
There are plenty of other ways of causing conflict. Plenty of less frustrating, anger-fueling, distasteful paths to the same destination. Why use the weakest of all?
What frustrates me most is that miscommunication as a trope can be used in so many more creative ways. I do enjoy it when it is not solely to fuel the conflict and to be the only source of tension. Sometimes, it can be silly. A funny gesture not used to push the plot along, but to entertain and poke fun. Instead, however, it’s propelled to be the primary reason for conflict. Its only purpose has become to misdirect characters and destroy relationships. At such a point I believe it is lazy. I beg people to finally put an end to it.
