Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Chapters IV-VI

"'The whole truth?' Miss Bart laughed. 'What is truth? Where a woman is concerned, it's the story that's easiest to believe," (Wharton, 237). This quote stood out to me because of it's relevance to current society. Often, in reading about politicians, public figures, and celebrities, we can focus on the story journalists are feeding us, regardless of the "truth" factor. The simplest story is the easiest to print and, as Lily says, the easiest to believe. For example, "I forgot to do my homework" is much more believable than "I went home and cleaned up the house, then had to go to the store because we didn't have eggs, then...etc...etc." And in Lily's case, it's easier to believe that she was having an affair with George than the real situation. This situation also applies in the Disney classic The Lion King. When Simba's uncle Scar tells him that his father (Mufasa) died because of him, Simba believes what Scar is telling him and runs away. Truth is, that Mufasa was trying to save Simba, but in that moment, it was easier for Simba to believe that his father died as a result of his actions because of his fragile emotional state. As the illustration says, what is the truth today will not always be the truth tomorrow. This comes true for both Simba and Lily Bart as their journey continues.

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