When Wyatt writes, his lines fledge feathers, and unfolding this plumage they dive below their meaning and skim above it. They tell us that the rules of power and the rules of war are the same, the art is to deceive; and you will deceive, and be deceived in your turn, whether you are an ambassador or a suitor. Now, if a man's subject is deception, you are deceived if you think you grasp his meaning. You close your hand as it flies away. A statute is written to entrap meaning, a poem to escape it.
In Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up the Bodies," the complexity of deception in communication is explored through the character of Wyatt, whose writing style is both intricate and elusive. The author portrays writing as a delicate craft that can convey hidden depths and alternative interpretations, suggesting that power dynamics and war strategies hinge on the art of deception. This highlights the duality of roles played by individuals, where one can be both a deceiver and a victim of deception, regardless of their position.
The narrative emphasizes that attempts to fully understand a subject steeped in deception can lead to misunderstandings, akin to grasping at something intangible. Mantel uses this theme to suggest that while statutes aim to clearly codify meaning, poetry and creative expression seek to transcend it, allowing for more layered interpretations. Thus, grappling with embellishments of language becomes a reminder of the inherent uncertainties in communication.
