The suitcase in Pulp Fiction, the stone that gave its name to the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the poison in the bottle in Romeo and Juliet, or the foundation itself in Isaac Asimov’s famous work The Foundation… These works of art, created at different times, actually share a common feature.
Anton Chekhov is undoubtedly one of the most solid writers in Russian literature. He is still an example to us today, both in his short stories and his plays. Not only did he leave behind works that generally depict tragic events, but he also combined psychological depth, reality and the complexity of human nature. This gave rise to a narrative principle that would later be named after him.
As we mentioned in the examples we gave at the beginning, they are all related to this principle. According to the principle of “Chekhov’s Gun”, an element in the work that stands out at the beginning is bound to play an integral role in the continuation or end of the story. The element he used most often during his time as a playwright and novelist was the gun. A powerful parameter that leaves a tragic impact… Bam!
There is another concept called “foreshadowing”. When I heard about Chekhov’s Gun, it reminded me of that. After doing some research, I understood better that there are certain differences between the two. These differences create distinctive lines but affect the integrity of the narrative.
The starting point of foreshadowing doesn’t have to be the beginning of the story. It doesn’t have to be forcefully presented to the viewer or reader. It can come in many forms, on simple or complex levels. For example, foreshadowing can be based on a character. However, this character must be no more than a momentary or episodic figure who produces emotional and intellectual changes without significantly affecting the work as a whole.
A classic example of this is the death scene, which occurs mainly in teenage horror films and has sometimes become an element of comedy. Young people at a summer camp do not know where they are and wait by the campfire. Either they get lost in the dark and take shelter in the first place they find, or they visit a place that has become the stuff of horror stories.
There is one particular character who loses his life. A generally shy, naive character who looks at the roaring forest, but always goes to investigate the surroundings. This situation is almost the same in all the stories that deal with a similar theme, it has become a cult. Fortunately, Scooby-Doo and his gang always catch the bad guys.
In the example, the use of foreshadowing for fear and death suggests that the character mentioned, or at least a character present in the environment, will encounter them. In my opinion, the real surprise and plot twist would be if that character survived. Like in the film “Cube”.
To return to the subject, the logic of foreshadowing is not as sharp and explicit as in Chekhov’s Gun. On the other hand, Chekhov’s Gun advocates showing the gun from the beginning. If a gun is shown, it will be fired. This, of course, has a tragic outcome. It will have a significant effect on the whole story, and that’s the way it should be.
Spoiler alert for those who have been unaware since the 16th century: Romeo refuses to live without Juliet’s love, he drinks the poison and dies. Afterwards, Juliet, -who is not actually dead- tries Romeo’s dagger on herself, et voilà, “happy ending”. The aforementioned poison is an element that comes from the previous events and accompanies the end of the story.
Foreshadowing allows the audience or reader to form ideas and make assumptions. It can increase interest, prevent disengagement, keep attention focused and add vitality. At the end of a film, it will create a topic of conversation after you leave the cinema. But in a work based on Chekhov’s principle, what can happen becomes more predictable. I ask you, is there anyone who predicted that Frodo wouldn’t be able to destroy the One Ring on his journey?
(Yes, dear Sam supporters, I, too, sometimes got annoyed and wanted to leave Frodo whining there, but the light of hope never goes out. Well, anyway, I’m going to finish reading that excellent dialogue of theirs and then watch the film again.)
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