Confusion as Hypnosis-induction and Literary Technique: Novels may be hard to read when not written clearly, but sometimes confusion is intentional

When novels are hard to read, it is not always because authors did not bother to write clearly. Another possible reason is that confusion is being used as a literary technique.

To fully enjoy a novel, many readers go into a virtual trance state to immerse themselves in the world that the author has created. In that sense, novelists are trying to hypnotize readers, and it is a good thing.

One of the oldest hypnosis induction techniques is The Confusion Technique, associated with Milton H. Erickson, M.D. (1).

Here is a link to an online discussion of the basic idea: https://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/articles/uncommon-hypnosis/art-of-confusion.html

Before a novelist can use confusion to entrance readers, he must first establish himself as a good writer, and one who certainly does know how to write clearly. But once writers have established themselves as bona fide and legitimate, then readers will naturally assume that if they don’t understand what they are reading, it must be profound.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_H._Erickson