Liar, liar …
As I read "contemporary" young adult fiction, I notice that lying appears to be an acceptable means of getting along in the world. Not only do the protagonists themselves accept this, but the authors suggest that this is a universal behavior pattern. But is it? And why do so many writers appear to promote this as "normal?"
Is lying to parents, friends, teachers and other adults just an easy way to get along in the world? Is this the real world, or an endorsement on anti-social, self-destructive behavior?
When I was in high school, I did know one classmate who regularly lied to her father. She was secretly dating a boy her father did not approve of. With reason. The young man was a bully who treated the girl was a mixture of violence and affection. She lapped it up.
But I knew of no others, and in a small school where everyone knew everyone, secrets were hard to keep. True, none of us shared everything with our parents. There were many things I did that I did not want my parents to know about, or even share with my friends. Too many events happened that we did not have the discretion, moral development or wisdom to handle. But we did not lie. We shut up. Perhaps that was lying by omission, but we did not place into words the thoughts or actions that we hid. We knew that lies have teeth that all too often could bite back. We wanted our parents to trust us, because with trust came freedom. If I had lied to either my mother or father and they had found out, I would have created a canyon I would never have been able to bridge.
But this does not appear to be the way of the modern teenager. She (usually she) lies to her parents without a single prick of conscience, a act so natural that she might as well be drinking at the water fountain or crossing a street. And they get away with it too. Is this the way of the contemporary world?
Is lying to parents, friends, teachers and other adults just an easy way to get along in the world? Is this the real world, or an endorsement on anti-social, self-destructive behavior?
When I was in high school, I did know one classmate who regularly lied to her father. She was secretly dating a boy her father did not approve of. With reason. The young man was a bully who treated the girl was a mixture of violence and affection. She lapped it up.
But I knew of no others, and in a small school where everyone knew everyone, secrets were hard to keep. True, none of us shared everything with our parents. There were many things I did that I did not want my parents to know about, or even share with my friends. Too many events happened that we did not have the discretion, moral development or wisdom to handle. But we did not lie. We shut up. Perhaps that was lying by omission, but we did not place into words the thoughts or actions that we hid. We knew that lies have teeth that all too often could bite back. We wanted our parents to trust us, because with trust came freedom. If I had lied to either my mother or father and they had found out, I would have created a canyon I would never have been able to bridge.
But this does not appear to be the way of the modern teenager. She (usually she) lies to her parents without a single prick of conscience, a act so natural that she might as well be drinking at the water fountain or crossing a street. And they get away with it too. Is this the way of the contemporary world?
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Cameron
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Aug 26, 2013 06:09PM
I don't think it's just contemporary fiction - Catcher in the Rye, the main character is a compulsive liar. Catch-22, mc lies fairly often too. Lying's fairly normal and common especially among young people and it doesn't seem to be new. Yeah, it's not the best thing to do, but it happens, and it's not a new phenomena at all.
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CITR is hardly a sterling example. Holden clearly has psychological issues. His lying is but part of a wide range of problems. My point is that if an author is presenting a character as a "hero" and that character lies without a trace of hesitation or remorse, what kind of hero is that? Much of YA fiction deals with personal growth and self-actualization. That includes achieving some kind of level of morality. The best characters IMHO do have a sense of moral strength that comes out or grows in the course of a story.
To argue that it is okay for a hero to lie because it is "common" among teenagers or is convenient does not make a hero normal. It just means he or she plans to become a politician where the truth is whatever suits the moment.
Anderson's "Speak" is a far better example of what lying is all about. Melinda will not lie, but knows she cannot speak the truth either (because maybe no one will believe her?). Her integrity comes with a steep price, but allows her to triumph in the end. That is the type of character I like to read about and the kind of author I respect.
