From time to time I see the idea that misunderstandings in general are a disreputable crutch for bad plots. They're a thing of sitcoms, chick flicks, and just low-effort writing in general. Miscommunication is a way for bad writers to set up false conflict while it's needed for humor or drama, and then they wave it away later. The result: a plot that could have been avoided with one clarification.
But is there a counterexample? (I guess I would exclude romance, since there we have things like Much Ado About Nothing.) Is there a more serious book where miscommunication is actually used in a dignified way that holds up?
by rdhight