“Talking in this story is not a source of real communication; it’s a way of asserting or defending the self. Consequently, we learn less from the literal words the characters use than the allusions that build up around them.” What does this mean?
Answer:
This means that in the story, characters use speech not primarily to communicate or exchange information, but to establish or protect their own identity or position. Therefore, the indirect references or connotations they make provide more insight about them than their actual spoken words.