An international review publication recently had some glowy things to say about my novel, The Blue Iris–and also, they “could have done without all the swearing.”
It’s true, my characters know some choice words and aren’t afraid to use them. Some find this curious, given the writing style of the rest of the book (which they describe using words like “delicate” and “elegant”). Why would I sprinkle f-bombs throughout like pixie dust at Disney World? What does it add?
Is the filthy language really necessary?
This is exactly the question Will asks in the book, after would-be-fiancée Tessa levels an accusation at him with a vulgarity he didn’t know she was capable of.
Her response?
It is, actually.
And here’s why:
Real flower market employees (and those in corporate backrooms, for that matter) swear. It’s been a while since I worked in either, but some casual eavesdropping recently on a group of outdoor workers, mostly males aged 25-45 (the same demographic as the Blue Iris crew), collegially chatting while they believed no one else was around proved this to still be true. In fact, they had me wondering if my characters should have cursed more.
Okay, but why does Tessa have to develop a potty mouth, too?
Indeed. her Blue Iris colleague Luke says it best: “Watching the profanity that came standard with working outdoors take its hold on straight-laced, uptight Tessa was like watching the Queen of England hawk chewing tobacco.”
Tessa is working long hours at the market, surrounded by the tight-knit crew for weeks on end. How can their vernacular not rub off on her? Meanwhile, she’s moving further from expectations she’s long placed on herself and closer to who she actually is, gradually dispensing with airs she’s accustomed to but no longer fit. We “watch our language” around people we can’t fully be ourselves around, but we’re authentically ourselves when we feel free to talk with others unfiltered.
But foul language is offensive and unevolved!
In certain contexts, I agree. Still, curse words are found in nearly every language. Over fifty per cent of people admit to using them at least some of the time (as for the other fifty, I respectfully call bull***). Some believe profanity has survived this long (and thrived, if the continued creativity around its usage is any indication) because it serves an adaptive function no other form of language can achieve.
Studies link cursing to improved pain tolerance, higher physical strength responses, tighter human bonds and alliances, and improved healing outcomes. Contrary to common belief, it’s also associated with honesty, higher intelligence scores and integrity (all of which, you’ll find, are rather lacking among the well-spoken Westlakes and company in the book). In other words, swearing is power. As each character in The Blue Iris reclaims theirs, their word choices run parallel.
Coarse language in the book was not an accident, but a carefully weighed authorial decision. Several editorial passes were dedicated solely to combing for the usage of curse words, examining their frequency, placement, degree of offensiveness, and necessity. I spent an entire morning debating with my editor over whether the word “Clock,” uttered by a character whose mouth was stuffed with sausage-on-a-bun, should be pronounced without the “l” (in the end, we decided that would be crossing the line, though I’m not convinced that was the right call given the scene’s context). All along the aim was to strike a balance between painting a picture true to flower market life and not averting the reader’s gaze.
Yes, the characters in the Blue Iris speak coarsely, and no, I’m not sorry. They’re also the most genuine, fiercely loyal group you could hope to have on your side, and part of my intent in writing them was to illustrate that a pristine presentation is no reliable index of moral depth. Further, where delicate flowers grow you will also, always, find dirt and muck–a duality I didn’t feel comfortable omitting from this story, at the risk of raising a few eyebrows.
Of course, I’m not advocating an unrestricted flow of f-bombs, in books or in life. Certainly there are many contexts where language should absolutely be kept clean.
But the Blue Iris flower market sure as sheep sh%t isn’t one of them.
Rachel Stone 