Why do people lie? There are many answers to this question. A few include that they are afraid of the consequences if they tell the truth, want to avoid confrontation, or are lying to be nice. However, there are some people who lie just because they can or because they think it is amusing. This is the case of the niece, Vera, in the short story “The Open Window” by H. H. Munro. She doesn’t display any logical reason for her misleading of Mr. Nuttel. Clearly, the author of this short story does an outstanding job of portraying the theme of deception through his characters. First of all, Vera’s traits and the way that she sets up her lie greatly contributes to the theme of deception. In fact, she is the main symbol of dishonesty in …show more content…
Sappleton. The niece uses many details in her story to make it seem more realistic than if she had simply said they went out and never returned. She then adds to the eeriness of the story when she describes how she sometimes gets a feeling that “they will all walk in through that window.” This is her way of making Mr. Nuttel feel slightly unsettled in preparation for him to be completely bewildered. When Mrs. Sappleton enters the conversation, she goes on and on about her husband and brothers and how they will return shortly. Although she is not aware of it, she is doing Vera a great favor by making herself seem crazy and showing that Vera did not lie about the hunting trip. This makes Mr. Nuttel very uncomfortable, just as Vera was hoping for. Because of these details, Mr. Nuttel is extremely freaked out when the aunt’s husband and brothers appear, and dashes off without a word. Lastly, a factor of the short story “The Open Window” that adds to the theme of deception is how the niece continues to lie even after Mr. Nuttel is gone. She tells her aunt and the rest how Mr. Nuttel had a “horror of dogs,” even though he never said anything to her about dogs. Obviously, the fact that Vera continues to lie supports the idea that deception is simply entertainment for her. It also shows that she is very good at coming up with false information on the spot. She also
Vera’s purpose is to finish the last line of the poem, “One little Indian boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.” After she kills Phillip, she goes and hangs herse...
In Why I Live at the P.O. something that I discovered to be very ordinary was the confrontation of Stella-Rondo telling lies about the narrator (sister). There are two instances when this happens, the first lie is Stella-Rondo says “Papa-Daddy, Sister says she fails to understand why you don’t cut off your beard” (438 Welty). The second lie is when Stella-Rondo says, “Sister has been devoting this solid afternoon to sneering out my bedroom window at the way you look” (443 Welty). By Stella-Rondo pinning these lies on her sister it turns the family members against her sister and for the family to favor Stella-Rondo over sister. It all started too with sister assuming that Stella-Rondo’s baby is not adopted “She was the spit-image of Papa-Daddy….
Have you ever told a lie to protect yourself or someone you love? People lie for their own purposes. Some people lie for themselves or for their close one. They depend on the lies so much that they do not care that their lies might hurt others. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, almost all the characters lie for their own desires and to protect their own interests. Even though lies are forbidden in their religion, some people are blind to understand the punishment of lying. The concept of lying to save oneself is also evident in “Fear Was Reason For Lying About Shooting, Woman Says” by Mary Spicuzza. The article highlights how a woman hid the truth about witnessing a murder just for the sake of her own life. Another article, “The Truth
Deception as an element can be presented in various forms. One may choose to hide their true self for specific intriguing motives in life. A theme identified in "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson and "A Bolt of White Cloth" by Leeon Rooke is appearance can be used to deceive ones true self and morals for an intriguing motive. In both short stories, that were examined, both main characters use their exterior appearances to deceive their true morals, they deceive the people around them and lastly their deeds show their true intentions which distinguish their compelling motives which are viewed through a sense of morals.
Deception is present in Tennessee Williams’s drama ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, William Shakespeare’s Tragedy ‘Othello’ and L. P. Hartley’s novel ‘The Go-Between’; the writers choose to use characterisation to explore the theme in depth. Often the protagonists of each text are the primary offenders of deceit, though some supporting characters mislead as well; although Iago is the antagonist of ‘Othello’, he is incomparably the most deceitful character in the entire play. Similarly, Williams uses Blanche to develop the plot by misleading the other characters and even herself at times, though arguably, unlike Iago, Blanche is presented as a character who lacks the motivation to hurt anyone. Conversely Leo, although the protagonist and narrator of the novel, is not the most deceitful character – Ted Burgess and Marian Maudsley not only coerce him into the deceit, but they themselves are presented as masters of the game they play, however, this essay will focus on Leo as he is a unique symbol of deceit; he is unaware of the consequences of his actions.
Lies play a central part in the play as the story is based around lies
Identifying a lie can at times prove quite troublesome. Some individuals may occasionally claim to spot deception simply by noticing the behavior of someone accused. This gut feeling is by no standards definite, and could be in fact mistaken. On the on other hand, one possible way to expose a lie concerns the revealing of an idea that is most assuredly true, such as with an article that has been written down. Documents usually are quite accurate, for once an idea is put on paper it becomes quite hard to retract. In effect written words relate to the truth, and if understood by the viewer they may expose the lies of those around him. Taking this a step further involves putting truthful, paper into the hands of someone else, perhaps in the form of a letter or note via the post office. In his drama A Doll House Ibsen included three articles of mail to symbolize the truth, and thereby to reveal some of the lies perpetrated by Nora.
...al to peers, the world, and even one’s self. If one lies about their feeling towards another person, there is chance that person can find out. If they find out, he or she will be extremely angry and there is a chance that the friendship will be in ruins. Lying can ruin the world, as seen by the omission of the goddess Lilith and stereotypes. Finally, excessive lying can lead to a decreased self-value. Eventually you will begin to delude yourself, and find it nearly impossible to escape the never-ending cycle of lies. Ericsson incorporates these feelings of little to no self-value in the last section of her essay when she speaks of delusion and her conclusion. Her main argument is that little lies can turn into large lies, and can cause a sort of cultural cancer. She appeals to the audience through the use of self-worth in an effort to further appeal to her audience.
Lies litter the halls of everyone’s mind. Deception scatters itself among the truth, blending in like a chameleon in the desert. Trickery is swept under the carpet, pushed from the forefront of the beholder’s thoughts. Tales of fiction escape the deceiver’s mouth with an intent to present himself or herself in a certain fashion. Dishonesty works like a sprinkler, drenching relationships in a thick cloud of pure deceit when the speaker wishes to. Some acts of deception affect the audience in different manners. A small falsehood goes unnoticed, causing no harm, just another chip in the liar’s conscious. Other purposeful inaccuracies rip and tear relationships apart. The final unveiling of the truth, however small or simplistic the mendacity is, is explosive; this finale could terminate a connection. Blanche Dubois from A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams learns this treacherous lesson in her attempt to conquer her insecurities. Blanche was caught in a web of lies she and her family told; she was beyond the point of no return and received a backlash most would not wish upon their greatest enemy. These lies, although present in the written play, are emphasized in the film adaptation of the play. In the film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, deception is enhanced through the film crew’s choice of lighting, sound, and the portrayal of characters in the film.
...e relationship with men, as nothing but tools she can sharpen and destroy, lives through lust and an uncanny ability to blend into any social class makes her unique. Her character is proven as an unreliable narrator as she exaggerates parts of the story and tries to explain that she is in fact not guilty of being a mistress, but a person caught in a crossfire between two others.
Illusion’s purpose is questioned in this fact-based world we call reality. Blanche, Stella’s sister, is used to represent illusion. Her whole life, from her diamond tiara made of rhinestones, to her spurious façade, is literally and metaphorically an illusion. The concept of illusions is further developed through the light motif in the play, with Blanche displaying “moth” like characteristics, avoiding “strong light”(pg.3) and “naked light bulb[s]”(pg.54). The light motif also represents a time of innocence, before Blanche’s husband’s death, when there was “blinding light” in her life, but after her husbands suicide, there hasn’t been“ any light that's stronger than this--kitchen—candle” (pg.103). Stanley is an advocate for reality, as shown by his constant struggle to uncover Blanches illusions about her past. Williams suggests that illusion’s serve as an essential part of society. Whether it was Blanches husband’s suicide or Stella’s husband’s participation in rape, illusions are shown throughout the play to help people deal with harsh realities. They help ‘victims’ of reality see “what ought to be truth”(pg.127) through illusions, alleviating unwanted pain.
Deception is the driving force of the play, the key theme that causes the character’s action that shapes the story. In Act I, Nora deceives her husband, Helmer, in several different ways. The reader gets their first glimpse of deceit when Nora snacks on some macaroons and then hides them from her husband.
These characters are not all in Lee's work; they along with others join forces to create Lee's tone of contemplation toward deceptive appearances. A negativism of deception appears through the inevitable rumors of certain characters. However, deception can also appear as a unnecessary trait in a character's portrayal. Lee sees this, and she uses it for a fictitious novel that illustrate the cold, hard truth of reality. The example of the most simple deception is a liar. However, the truth could be much more deceiving. Self-deception of a mind of wishful thinking could go a long way in a positive outlook. There are many sides to deception, but to be educated in such an art can lead into benefit or detriment.
Can you remember the last time someone lied to you? Or how about the last time you lied to someone else? Did you ever stop and ask yourself why? There are so many different reasons that a person might lie. Maybe a lie about something to keep oneself out of trouble, or even a lie to impress other people. But either way there are always going to be serious consequences or effects of lying.
Secondly, it is okay to be untruthful if you are trying to protect people. In certain situations, it is safer, and more practical for you to tell a lie rather than putting a loved one in jeopardy. To illustrate you may be in a situation where you are in a serious or dangerous situation, and you do not what anyone else involved, to keep them safe. For example, if you are getting held up for ransom, would you tell the truth to a loved one and get them involved, or lie and keep them safe? The obvious answer is to keep them safe at all costs, even if it means lying. Also, you do not want to put someone in harm’s way, so it would be ...