Is there a contradiction in this paragraph?

[Madman1981]

In the paragraph below

Patinos, the man from Venezuela, looked at Benson with a smile of mild cynicism on his face. The smile signified nothing. Patinos, a sincere and devout Catholic, wore the same expression when he passed through the doors of his church.

Seawitch by MacLean Alistair, page 13​

I feel there is a contradiction. If Patinos looked at Benson with "a smile of mild cynicism on his face" so how the smile signified nothing? It clearly signifies a mild cynicism. isn't it? On the other hand, I think this contradiction is expressed artistically in the last sentence: a devout Catholic who past through the doors of his church with cynicism (and skepticism?). But I don't know if my impression that the author has deliberately created an artistic contradiction between faith and skepticism here is due to an illusion caused by my poor English, or what.

 

[Skrej]

It means the smile didn't actually express cynicism, because he had the same expression even in church.

As a devout Catholic, he wouldn't be cynical about church; yet he has the same smile on his face even in church. Ergo, although the smile seemed to express cynicism, it actually didn't. It just looked cynical.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, @Madman1981.

Always tell us the source and author of any text you quote - in post #1 - please.

 

[Madman1981]

It means the smile didn't actually express cynicism, because he had the same expression even in church.

As a devout Catholic, he wouldn't be cynical about church; yet he has the same smile on his face even in church. Ergo, although the smile seemed to express cynicism, it actually didn't. It just looked cynical.

Thank you Skerj.
So, is my impression that the author intentionally created a contradiction between doubt and faith in the last sentence wrong? Honestly, I was hoping that the author had created this contradiction intentionally.
But why would someone has such a smile on their face in a religious place?

 

[Madman1981]

Welcome to the forum, @Madman1981.

Always tell us the source and author of any text you quote - in post #1 - please.

Hi @Rover_KE, Thank you. How are you? I hope you teachers (and of course all good people) are always healthy.
I edited the first post, wrote the source, and included the link to the book. I have the paper copy, but if anyone is interested, they can borrow it from the Archive website.

 

[Skrej]

So, is my impression that the author intentionally created a contradiction between doubt and faith in the last sentence wrong?

Yes, probably. I think the author's only trying to create a contradiction between the character's appearance and true state of mind for the reader. Only the author could say for sure, however.

Maybe he's even trying to establish an unreliable or biased narrator.

Honestly, I was hoping that the author had created this contradiction intentionally.
But why would someone has such a smile on their face in a religious place?

I seriously doubt Patinos is consciously trying to make his smile appear cynical. That's why it's the same in church. It's just the way he smiles. He's probably just smiling, and other people (or at least the narrator) are the ones interpreting it as cynical. He's likely unaware of how his smile looks.

Some people have expressions on their faces which other people interpret as angry or irritated, even though that's not necessarily an accurate reflection of the individual's emotions. It's so common that there's even a term for this called "Resting B*tch Face" (which despite the female pejorative is used for both men and women).

People frequently ask me why I'm upset or angry when there's actually nothing bothering me. Apparently I look perpetually p*ssed off.

 

[Madman1981]

Yes, probably. I think the author's only trying to create a contradiction between the character's appearance and true state of mind for the reader. Only the author could say for sure, however.

Maybe he's even trying to establish an unreliable or biased narrator.



I seriously doubt Patinos is consciously trying to make his smile appear cynical. That's why it's the same in church. It's just the way he smiles. He's probably just smiling, and other people (or at least the narrator) are the ones interpreting it as cynical. He's likely unaware of how his smile looks.

Some people have expressions on their faces which other people interpret as angry or irritated, even though that's not necessarily an accurate reflection of the individual's emotions. It's so common that there's even a term for this called "Resting B*tch Face" (which despite the female pejorative is used for both men and women).

People frequently ask me why I'm upset or angry when there's actually nothing bothering me. Apparently I look perpetually p*ssed off.

Thanks, Skrej,

I was reminded of the face of a character in the Harry Potter novel. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the sentence and the name of that character because I read it years ago.

Of course, I did not mean that Patinos is consciously trying to make his smile appear cynical. In our poetic literature (in Persian), there are many such intentional contradictions and paradoxes. Paradoxes that the poet creates between doubt and faith. The character himself is unaware of it, it is something between the poet and the reader, and of course, often a satire on authoritarian governments and their religious dogma. The poet wants to somehow challenge the faith of the believer. An irony that at the heart of these seemingly strong beliefs lies an unconscious doubt; a cynicism. Perhaps it is my mental bias that I am looking for intentional paradoxes.

 

[Tarheel]

In the paragraph below


I feel there is a contradiction. If Patinos looked at Benson with "a smile of mild cynicism on his face" so how DID the smile SIGNIFY nothing? It clearly signifies a mild cynicism. DOESN'T it? On the other hand, I think this contradiction is expressed artistically in the last sentence: a devout Catholic who past through the doors of his church with cynicism (and skepticism?). But I don't know if my impression that the author has deliberately created an artistic contradiction between faith and skepticism here is due to an illusion caused by my poor English, or what.

It doesn't deserve that much analysis. As Skrej pointed out, it's simply that person's resting face (the way he looks all the time). Thus there is no meaning to it.