Example of Literary Implication:
The Story: A young woman is walking through a crowded market. She sees a beautiful, handcrafted birdcage hanging in a stall. The cage is empty. She stares at it for a long time, her expression unreadable. She then walks away without purchasing it.
The Implication: This simple scene implies a lot about the woman's character and her past. Some possible implications include:
* She has experienced loss or freedom: The empty cage could symbolize a lost love, a missed opportunity, or a feeling of being trapped.
* She longs for something she can't have: The beautiful cage could represent a desire for a stable relationship, a dream that is out of reach, or a sense of security she currently lacks.
* She is afraid of commitment: The emptiness of the cage could represent her fear of being tied down or of potentially losing something valuable.
The reader is left to draw their own conclusions: The author doesn't explicitly state the meaning of the empty cage. This forces the reader to think about the scene and its implications, contributing to the overall depth and ambiguity of the story.
This is literary implication in action: The author uses a seemingly simple image to suggest a complex inner world. By not providing direct answers, the author invites the reader to participate in the story's meaning-making process.