Lying The Turth In Mark Twain's 'The Canterbury Tales'

In the classic dystopian novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, there are many rules to keep the Community in order, and most of these rules can be broken in one simple, yet unthinkable way, lying. These rules are made to keep everyone safe, but everyone seems to be almost brainwashed. They would never think to do something as daring as lying to have a little freedom in life. Throughout The Giver, by Lois Lowry, the theme of lying is shown constantly, proving that their world isn’t as perfect as it seems.

The mere concept of a compulsive or pathological liar is often repulsive to most of us, but the truth is, many of us aren’t that far from crossing that bridge. In her essay, “The Ways We Lie”, Stephanie Ericsson analyzes not only the many occasions in which we lie, but also the meaning and consequences of those lies. Although Ericsson’s definitions are well articulated, the evidence she employs to support many of her statements lack depth.

To many people, a lie has little significance. Some people tell lies as a way to cover something up, make a different name for themselves, or just to make excuses. No matter what the situation, my father has constantly reminded me that the truth will set you free, and as I get older even though I am still in my youth, the more I realize the truth and importance of that statement. To me a lie is a form of disloyalty, the less you respect the person the more you lie to them as a way to cover up your true identity. A lie is when you mislead what is really the truth; where you don’t tell the full truth in order to deceive someone, or you avoid being honest at all. There are several different outcomes to

“Sire, I am a Spaniard, and I bear no allegiance to France” (Benson 304). In the book, The Plague Tales by Ann Benson, the theme, sometimes deceiving can be good, develops throughout the novel. Ann Benson supports the theme with the motif of deception by making the characters lie to save themselves, making them lie to have more composure, and making them lie to seem like a better person. A motif in the novel that conveys the theme are characters lying to save themselves from getting caught.

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, has many similarities to Stephanie Ericsson’s essay, “The Ways We Lie.” Ericsson’s essay condemns humanity’s ability to lie without remorse and gives examples of the ways people deceive each other. Huckleberry Finn, a young boy who doesn’t follow many rules, lies constantly and consistently uses many of Ericsson’s examples of lies. Because Huckleberry Finn takes place in the 1830’s, it is easy to identify many stereotypes and cliches in this novel, Ericsson’s essay portrays this as a form of lying. When Jim and Huckleberry were on the raft floating away from their town, Huckleberry came to a conclusion that Jim was “uncharacteristically” smart. Huckleberry stated, “He had an uncommon level head for a nigger”

Chaucer's ability to characterize people from all walks of life in explicit detail, as is so wonderfully displayed in The Canterbury Tales, is just one factor that allowed him to be known as one of history's finest literary artists. At the end of a career that would be considered by most artists as an extremely successful one, what could have caused Chaucer to apologize for any of the works which defined literary success? In "Chaucer's Retraction," which appears at the end of The Canterbury Tales (Norton 311), Chaucer not only apologizes for several of his secular works, he also goes so far as to revoke them, and ask for forgiveness for such works which "tended toward sin" (313), as he puts it.

In society, deception, cunningness, and other uses of trickery are quite common. Whether these themes are seen easily or are placed more discreetly, they are found in society often. Simply take a look at any political ad, certain sexual assault cases, or any form of social media, especially dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. More often than not, political advertisements, sexual assault cases, and social media involve extraordinary amounts of deception, cunning words, and lies to call someone to a certain action. Political advertisements contain propaganda to push a political view. Sexual assault cases frequently begin with cunning, seductive words used to draw someone into an act they do not desire to commit. Social media is possibly the most common form of deception as countless amounts of people edit their photos to attain a desired body image or skin tone, essentially cat-fishing anyone who follows them. Furthermore, deception and cunningness are not only common in society, but is also present in literature in several ways. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s epic poem, “The Canterbury Tales,” Chaucer uses seduction, craftiness, and trickery as a form of persuasion, revenge, and to prove tricks do not come without consequences.

Lying can be used for good, as well as it can be used for bad. Huck is able to save both himself and his friends by lying, even though society tells him it is wrong. Huck instead separates himself and creates a new identity for himself through lying. But not everyone has other people’s well being in mind. In the King and the Duke’s reign of tricks upon their unsuspecting victims they instead use lying and deceit as a way to get drinking money. Lying and deception play a large role throughout Mark Twain’s, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as it is both a reason and an escape from conflict. Both lying and deception are also used as a way to show the stark difference between appearances and reality because lying is what hides the reality from Huck and the rest of the characters within the

Chaucer’s writing involves a lot of hypocritical characters, for example the pardoner. He speaks of religious peoples wrong doings and the how the workers are compassionate and God fearing. If Chaucer were to still be alive in this day and age he would have plenty to write about. From major icons to the people in charge, there is always lying and hypocrisy. Examples of pilgrims that Chaucer would include in his Canterbury Tales today would be, celebrities, politicians, and modern religious figures who often display wrong doings.

From a young age, we are taught to tell the truth and only the truth, yet many a time in stories, the hero will devise a clever plan to deceive the antagonist(s) in an attempt to save someone or something. A prime example of this is in Suzanne Colin’s “The Hunger Games,” in which protagonist Katniss Everdeen deceives multiple people- even her close friends and family- with the intent of protecting herself or her loved ones.

A prime example of this is in The Franklin’s Tale. A woman, named Dorigen, and a knight were happily married, but her husband was sadly sent away on work for two years. A squire was madly in love with Dorigen and confessed his love to her (935-940 lines). Dorigen replied to the squire’s confession saying, “when you have made the coast so clean, so clear of rocks, that not a stone is seen, I'll love you more than any other man,” (Chaucer, lines 995). Surprisingly, the squire found a way to vanish the stones and Dorigen made a promise to marry this man who was not her husband. Upon her husband’s return home, Dorigen told her husband about the promise she made to marry the squire. Despite the fact that her husband was extremely upset, the noble knight made it clear that she must follow through with her promise. He stated, “INSERT QUOTE HERE!!!” (Chaucer, 475 ). Although Dorigen completely misunderstood the reality of the promise she made, she was still honest with her husband even though it was extremely painful for her. Being honest is not always easy, especially in situations where lying comes from a state of fear and not exactly from a state of

Liars shall perish within the depths of hell where they gather the lies of a demon. For those who know they are in the wrong, yet commits the crime of theft to truth shall be sentenced to death without mercy. Where we stand we shall not lie, the truth will never be hidden. Mark the words of the gods above, no life is safe when the truth is stolen.

Now it is time to decide which tale in The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, rises above the rest. I stated at the beginning of our journey to Canterbury that I would pick the tale that is “greatest moral teaching and in entertainment value” (17). After intently listening to all of your tales, one stood out from the others. Though many of you told stories that were offensive to other pilgrims on the trip or told stories that had little moral significance, I determined that there is one that most fully fulfills the requirements that I have set forth. I have decided that the Nun’s Priest’s Tale teaches the greatest moral lesson while having great entertainment value, making the Nun’s Priest the winner of our competition.

The state of lying is a convincing art that not many people can pull off effectively. There are different factors that have to be taken into account in order to consider something as a good lie. In a text, 3 factors that make up a convincing lie are the character and their traits, the situation involved and how persuasive they are. Speech is a thing of beauty as it can be manipulated in many ways to get people to believe you. A character’s traits allow a person to observe their behavior and how they are able to manipulate the language. Odysseus is able to use his cunning to manipulate the language into his favor making the suitors believe that he is indeed a beggar. It’s his traits of being wise and cunning that allows the suitors to fall

The Canterbury Tales, a masterpiece of English Literature, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection, with frequent dramatic links, of 24 tales told to pass the time during a spring pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The General Prologue introduces the pilgrims, 29 "sondry folk" gathered at the Tabard Inn in Southwark (outside of London). Chaucer decides to join them, taking some time to describe each pilgrim.