Erasts

Erasts are a rare and poorly understood form of literary device in which a character is described in a negative or deprecating manner through the use of adjectives and phrases. This technique is often used to create a strong sense of irony or emotional distance from the subject. Erasts can be found in various forms of writing including poetry, fiction, and drama.

The term "Erasts" is thought to have originated from the ancient Greek word for "descender" or "dissenter", implying a character who sets themselves apart or deviates from the norm. In literary contexts, erasts are employed to convey the speaker's or writer's perspective and biases, offering insight into the character's flaws and vulnerabilities.

Erasts can be used to authenticate the character's insecurities and questionable behavior or as a tool to explore the intricacies of their personality. They can be felt in literary works where the decision to portray a character as flawed has led to situated situations that raise tension in the narrative, much like it is in "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot and in Shakespeare's plays where the motives of characters such as Iago.

In some literary circles, the use of erasts has been attributed to the increasing popularity of 20th-century modernism, where the breaking down of narrative conventions and focus on fragmented narrative structures allowed writers greater flexibility in tackling topics that were previously seen as unconventional. Erasts have become an essential literary device employed by writers to expedite character conflict and ironize human frailty, this has been employed most notably in works by modern literary writers who touch on existential themes and ambiguities.