Waugh's Vile Bodies

1040 Words3 Pages

In Vile Bodies, Waugh addresses the frivolous falsehoods in gossip columns, which captivate the public and distract them from more serious societal problems. During the 1920’s, as well as today, it would seem that people show more interest in comforting, trivial topics instead of distressing important ones. For this reason, gossip columns can be a useful tool to wield. This tool gives authorities the ability to controls citizens, by controlling their access to information, and by using the populations ignorance to influence their world view. Through this cultural peer pressure, people are encouraged to ostracise anyone who doesn't keep themselves up to date on the most recent falsehoods. Driven by the people who are most wrapped up this …show more content…

A good example of someone being ostracised for this reason is Edward Throbbing. “He’s Miles’ brother, you know, only he’s frightfully dim and political, and doesn’t know anybody.” (Waugh 21) This position confirms another inversion of values in society, wherein value is assigned to a person based on who they know, with no value given to what they know. And serves a a parallel example of gossip columns being more important than actual news. Once encouraged to adopt this way of thinking, people are capable of convincing others to follow in their …show more content…

The reaction would be to reinforce the facade using extreme measures. In Vile Bodies, this is announced by the rector, “Worse, far worse. ...the most terrible and unexpected thing - War has been declared.” (Waugh 181) This news is not only extreme enough, to burst the bogus bubble, but it also has the surprise factor. In taking the case of Colonel Blount, we can see how these falsehoods shielded him from reality, as his initial guess at the news is completely mundane. The contradiction between the expected news and reality was enough to disrupt the everyday lives, at least

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