Why ambiguity?: Finding meaning

Three books informed this post: Moby Dick, King Lear and A Whaler's Dictionary "In order to understand the fool, one must think and discover, as one does with a sphinx's question, for oneself. The fool makes one responsible for one's own interpretation... by speaking one thing only in order to mean something else." - Dan Beachy-Quick, A Whaler's Dictionary In King Lear the fool is the wisest character. He says the truth beneath things and shows that the man who is supposed to be the real wise man, the king, is actually the biggest fool. That is not the point, however. Poetry and literature is purposefully ambiguous. Intentionally avoiding stating their intended meaning. Some say this is needlessly complex. If the writer has a meaning or has something important to say, why would they hide it behind fiction and overly descriptive riddles? If it is so important, why not just tell it straight? Truth, meaning and understanding come through experience. We cannot experience the same thing that the writer or poet or artist has experienced, but by working through and understanding a writer's work, or our interpretation of that work, we have gained some experience. Finding the meaning, whether it was intended or not, is the point. The act of discovering truth in literature has the effect of discovering your own process of thinking. Ambiguity is a puzzle, but as you find each piece, you discover that you are part of the puzzle as well. Every book you read and interpret, every poem, painting, photograph, landscape, word and relationship become part of you and the puzzle.