The power or cowardice of allusions

To describe a person or an entity, we employ an indirect description. This is due to our sincere desire to avoid upsetting or instigating revenge. Is this actually a part of how we engage with others as humans? When can we claim it is advantageous?

Allusion has a lot of power. An allusion is a remark used to bring something to mind without expressly addressing it; it is an indirect or passing reference. By mentioning a well-known person, place, event, or literary work, allusions are utilized as stylistic elements to better contextualize a story. These allusions do not need to be explained in detail; in fact, most authors prefer to leave the reader to fill in the blanks.

Some great historical allusions, for example, when we refer to the government of the United States as Uncle Sam, which was popularized by a businessman in the 1900s. According to a verse in Revelations, the Alpha and Omega represent the beginning and the end in biblical references. Don Quixote, a figure in literature who is too idealistic to the point of being unrealistic, is based on the Cervantes character in Dale Wasserman and Mitch Leigh's The Man of La Mancha.

Former US President Barack Obama's speeches are laced with allusions to prior presidents' significant accomplishments, as well as the need for peace and harmony among Americans. “Through blood drawn by lash and blood drawn by sword, we learn that no union established on the ideas of liberty and equality could endure half-slave and half-free,” he said in his inauguration speech in 2013. "We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together,” which is also an allusion to a closing passage in Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address in 1865, which is widely regarded as history's only great second inaugural address.

  For a specific reason, this becomes a powerful technique. However, this is mostly employed to pique people's interest and curiosity about who is being referred to. Much more so when the description is intended to disparage or put the individual down, or when other crucial information is not available or is still being obtained.

Allusions are frequently used on social media and by public figures to describe someone whose description is well-known to many. Especially for individuals whose lives have been followed by a large number of people or at the very least have a large following, so when they are mentioned indirectly, a direct inference is made immediately away.

Recently, just in the case of the president's allusion to a certain politician's prior famous status. Such a history might be traced to his previous movie roles as a sexy actor. And those who grew up in his age would be quick to think he is the one the president is referring about. And, for whatever reason, the allusion has no clear connection to the local official's performance. Is it the intention of bringing back the past to invalidate the excellent work? And if that's the case, such allusion does not serve its purpose. It does not appear to draw a clear relationship. Allusion is a simple approach to attack someone whose ongoing efforts are for the benefit of others. And it won't work on any logical person if it's intended to generate laughter and ruin a good person.