Compare and contrast the presentation of deception in All My Sons and Vernon God Little

Deception is a theme presented in All My Sons by Arthur Miller. In All My Sons, Miller presents Joe Keller as someone who is deceptive and tends to tell lies. In this Drama, Joe and Kate Keller have lost their son Larry in the Second World War, The cracked engine heads produced by Joe Keller’s factory caused it and dropped twenty-one pilots out of the sky. Although Keller’s guilt is initially hidden, it is hinted at the end of act one when Keller says ‘what have I got to hide?’ almost as though he is paranoid because of past issues. Keller asks this rhetorical question in order to make a statement rather than to elicit information. Keller gives the impression that he is not guilty of anything and has got nothing to hide although this is not true.

Likewise, deception is also a theme presented in Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre. In Vernon God Little, Pierre presents the antagonist Lally as someone who is deceptive in order to manipulate others. Keller and Lally both give an impression different to the true one; they both pretend to be something that they are not. Keller poses as an innocent man and Lally pretends to be a news reporter for ‘CNN’. However, Vernon notices a calling card which tells us Lally’s true identity. When he is asked if it’s his true identity, he says ‘Oh p-lease’ rather than give a clear answer of yes or no; he avoids the question. Pierre’s use of language through Lally illustrates Lally’s lack of sincerity. Lally’s inability to give a direct answer shows that he is lying because surely if he was not lying he would have no trouble saying ‘no’ straight away. Also the reader can infer that Lally is suggesting that Vernon’s accusation is not serious and that no one would believe him. Lally says ‘Oh p-lease’ as th...

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In conclusion, deception was presented in both All My Sons and Vernon God little to a fair extent. Keller makes it seem as though he has not done something wrong although this is not true and Lally is someone who is deceptive in order to manipulate others for his own gain. Keller and Lally are similar in the sense that they both give the impression that they have not done something wrong although this is not true. Keller and Lally are different in the sense that Joe’s motive to lie was to give his wife peace of mind and Lally’s motives for lying can be seen as selfish because he does not care about the impact of his lies on others. Alternatively, Keller may have lied because of his hamartia which is his inability to take responsibility for his actions. His hamartia is highlighted when Keller say to Chris ‘I never thought they’d install them’.