Lies In Animal Farm By George Orwell

According to a recent study, the average woman tells over 65,000 lies in their life, while the average man lies over 109,000 times. People lie every day, even young children. Most of the time, these lies are small and harmless. But sometimes, they can have detrimental consequences for both the teller of the lie and those around them. A single lie can change the course of a person’s life, whether or not they are telling it. This can be seen in various works of literature. Take, for instance, the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. In Animal Farm, the reader sees a group of farm animals overthrow their oppressive human owners. They follow the animals as their new leaders, the pigs, fall further into corruption, relying on lies and manipulation

In this story, however, the lies control the teller more than any other characters. Jack, the main character in The Importance of Being Earnest, lives a double life. In the country, he is uncle to Cecily, his ward, and cousin to Ernest. In the city, he takes on the role of his fictional cousin Ernest. Eventually, his city friend Algernon discovers his secret, and Jack realizes he does not wish to have it any longer. While Jack plans to kill off Ernest, Algernon plans to take on the persona and visit Jack’s home in the country. Jack arrives at his home in the country and informs everyone that his brother Ernest has died, until “...Cecily enters with Ernest (Algernon) ... Jack is bewildered, but Cecily, thinking Jack's coolness is resentment at his brother's dissipated lifestyle, insists that the brothers mend their relationship” (“Overview”). Everyone present assumes the same as Cecily and encourages them to make up and repair their relationship. Jack has countless opportunities to correct them and reveal that he is acting standoffish because Algernon is an imposter, not because he dislikes his brother. However, Jack does not want to be caught in his lie, so he stays silent until he and Algernon are alone. While Algernon is masquerading as Ernest, Cecily tells Jack to shake his brother’s hand. Jack replies that “nothing will induce [him] to take [Ernest’s] hand. [He] thinks [Ernest’s] coming down here disgraceful. [Ernest] knows perfectly well why” (Wilde, Act 2). Once again, Jack has an opportunity to call Algernon out for his lie. And still, Jack doubles down and continues his own lie. He calls Algernon out without accusing him of lying or revealing himself to be doing so. Jack’s previous lies have trapped him into playing along with Algernon’s. Later, when Jack and Algernon are left alone, the butler asks Jack about Algernon’s luggage. Jack informs him that Ernest will not be