Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

614 Words3 Pages
In this essay, first, I would like to discuss the definition of lying, deception, and self-deception. Second, I would like to examine what lying and deceiving elements in the character(s) of: Walter Young in “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry and Henry II, Eleanor, Richard, Geoffrey, John in “the Lion in winter” by James Goldman. At last, I would like to compare their motive behind their actions. In Oxford English Dictionary, OED, defines a lie, ‘is to say or write something that you know is not true (OED)’. Therefore, a lie is required a form of written or spoken statement of the delivery a message that a person is intentionally to deceive others. In addition, OED defines deception, ‘the act of deliberately making somebody believe…show more content…
Young. said, ‘I want you to take this money and take three thousand dollars and put it in a saving account for Beneatha’s medical schooling. The rest you put in a checking account – with your name on it.’, Walter replied, ‘You trust me like that, Mama?’ When Walter questioned Mrs. Young, he did not make any promise to follow his mother wish. In the faith of trust Walter did not tell the truth either that he should oblige to the wish of Mrs. Young either. This laid down two arguments. First argument was that Mrs. Young had a blind faith on his son and believed that he should follow her wish. She never laid down the term that if he did not follow it, she would change her decision. Therefore, Walter might argue that she did not set the condition that was her fault of not protecting her money with drawing a written contract or require a verbal commitment. Thereby the fault was not totally on Walter. Second argument was that Walter did not oppose to the terms and misled his mother to have a false belief of his wish to follow her. In the result he wishfully invested the money against her wish that he violated her trust. This was not lying but deceiving. According to OED, deception did not require a statement. However, silence was also part of deceiving. Hence, Walter deceived his mother by the act of silence. In conclusion, I discussed the definition of lying, deception, and self-deception; I also examined what lying and deceiving elements
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