Ambiguity is a noun used to express a sense of vagueness or uncertainty. It can be used intentionally in poetry to hint at multiple meanings to a line or stanza. The prefix “ambi-“ is roughly translated to “two.” When ambiguity is involved, things cannot be resolved completely until more information is provided.

In William Godwin’s Caleb Williams, a large amount of ambiguity takes place throughout volume one and two. In volume one, the reader gathers information about Tyrrel’s murder as Caleb does, and he/she is also faced with the open-ended question of: Did Falkland kill Tyrrel? Caleb has difficulty believing it until he has gathered more facts, making things unclear for most of volume one. Volume two is also ambiguous as Caleb’s quest for information continues. When he finally comes to realize that Falkland is, in fact, a murderer, the reader is then left with a bit a vagueness regarding Caleb’s future. Will he try to bring Falkland to justice? Or will he keep this horrible realization to himself? This conflict is resolved, however another one follows shortly after.

To build suspense and keep a reader engaged, an author needs to incorporate ambiguity. Without it, there is no anticipation in a novel, and a reader can become uninterested easily. William Godwin’s writing is impressively suspenseful, creating a large amount of uncertainty. This keeps the reader interested in the novel, and makes him/her eager to unveil what happens next.

This word can be linked to allusion because of how it indirectly connects ideas, like how ambiguity can hint at something more. It also relates to symbolism.

“Ambiguity.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambiguity.

“Definition of “ambiguity” – English Dictionary.” Ambiguity Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ambiguity.

Godwin, William. Caleb Williams. Oxford University Press, 2009.