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Multiple Perspectives In Avi's Nothing But The Truth

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Do you know the difference between truth, perception, and reality? The text, Nothing but the Truth by Avi, is about a situation that happens at a school that is told from multiple perspectives. The structure of Nothing but the Truth develops the theme by giving multiple perspectives and showing the difference between truth, perspective, and reality, which is different from the Tell-Tale Heart, because it shows the reader how you do not obtain as much information through only one perspective.

Nothing but the Truth shows how having multiple perspectives on a situation can help benefit the readers’ understanding of the entire text. In the story, Phillip and Miss Narwin have a disagreement about a rule which leads to a bigger situation than it …show more content…

“It really hit the fan today. So much happened I have a headache. It’s going to take a while to think out. Actually, I don’t feel so great. In a way, the whole thing is stupid. But everybody says I was right. And I was.” (Avi, 86) This evidence supports the first reason because it explains about just one character’s feelings and thoughts, and his view on the situation. It helps better show the benefits of having multiple narrators. “I think and I think. And-that boy- Phillip Malloy- for reasons I’ll never learn-decided to insult me, his classmates, and as far as that goes, the national anthem. Yes, I sent him from my room. But it wasn’t I who sent him home. I objected to that. Objected strongly. Yet I’ve been blamed for his suspension. It’s I who has been …show more content…

In Nothing but the Truth, it shows the difference of perception and reality by telling the actual story, the truth, and Phillip’s version, as well as the reporter’s versions which got twisted.” But let me tell you good people-and I am sure I speak for you too-I am shocked that a Harrison student should be expelled from one of our schools simply because he desires to sing the national anthem. Yes, my friends, it is true. It happened here. Here-in yesterday’s Record is the full story.” (Avi, 125) This evidence explains about how the situation gets twisted and turns into more about perspective than the actual reality of it all. The reporters, the school board, and even some faculty, all twist the story. For example, Phillip wasn’t expelled. He was suspended for breaking a rule, not so much as singing the national anthem. “On behalf of our membership we strongly condemn your suppression of patriotism in the American School System… People like Margaret Marwin should be kicked out of teaching.” (Avi, 130-131) This shows that the reporters and telegram-writers were changing the story, based on their perspectives of the story. Such as, the second telegram writing to ‘Margaret Marwin’, which was not even her name. It explains the distortion of the actual scenario and about the difference between perspective and reality.

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