The Ways We Lie

When initially asked about the morality of lying, it is easy for one to condemn it for being wrong or even corrupt. However, those asked are generally guilty of the crime on a daily basis. Lying is, unfortunately, a normal aspect of everyday life. In the essay “The Ways We Lie,” author Stephanie Ericsson makes note of the most common types of lies along with their consequences. By ordering the categories from least to most severe, she expresses the idea that lies enshroud our daily lives to the extent that we can no longer between fact and fiction. To fully bring this argument into perspective, Ericsson utilizes metaphor, rhetorical questions, and allusion.

Core Question 1: Why does the author use a metaphor on page 128, paragraph 35?

Ericsson uses a metaphor to state her argument and to show the problems that may likely emerge from excessive lying. Near the end of her essay, she states, “Our acceptance of lies becomes a cultural cancer that eventually shrouds and reorders reality until moral garbage becomes as invisible to us as water is to a fish.” In this line, the author is comparing humans to fish, and lies to water. By stating this, she means that lying is so rampant throughout society that it has become an invisible part of everyday life. As stated earlier in the piece, “There is a world of difference between telling functional lies and living a lie.” The essay suggests that an excessive amount of functional lies eventually leads to other types of lies, and finally ends up with one living a lie. This metaphor is used mainly to allow the audience to realize that lying is a common but dangerous aspect of society. By comparing humans to fish, the audience will likely become a bit offended and search for ways to refute this...

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...al to peers, the world, and even one’s self. If one lies about their feeling towards another person, there is chance that person can find out. If they find out, he or she will be extremely angry and there is a chance that the friendship will be in ruins. Lying can ruin the world, as seen by the omission of the goddess Lilith and stereotypes. Finally, excessive lying can lead to a decreased self-value. Eventually you will begin to delude yourself, and find it nearly impossible to escape the never-ending cycle of lies. Ericsson incorporates these feelings of little to no self-value in the last section of her essay when she speaks of delusion and her conclusion. Her main argument is that little lies can turn into large lies, and can cause a sort of cultural cancer. She appeals to the audience through the use of self-worth in an effort to further appeal to her audience.