Reality In Lost Girls

The Misperceptions of Reality

Throughout one’s life, the mind has the ability to misperceive and twist situations in order to only see what is desired. Concepts that seem difficult to believe are sometimes perceived in a biased manner. In Andrew Pyper’s Lost Girls, Barth Crane, a criminal defense lawyer comes to the town of Murdoch to defend the accused in a murder case. While there, he notices the eeriness and strangeness of the town and its inhabitants as he gets know them. Pyper suggests that one’s desired perception can alter the reality and truth of their situation through Barth Crane’s dismissive and biased behaviour that overlooks the truth, as he possesses a negative self-perception, and chooses not to believe in the unexplainable.

Throughout the novel, Barth possesses a negative self-perception as he gradually hints at his obsession with his looks. This is expressed as Barth says, “But before I can go too far down the list of aesthetic regrets the mirror steams over again, leaving only a wavering shadow deep within the glass” (Pyper, 57). A mirror is often used as it possesses the connotation of expressing Barth’s identity, world-perception, and his ego. Additionally, Barth also mentions his past where he did evidently struggle with positive self-perception. This is expressed as Barth says, “When I looked again in the mirror I saw all the same things I thought I’d forgotten except now less distinct, anonymous, a face made up of used parts” (Pyper, 164). This negative self-perception comes from the poor relationship he had with his father and how he was reminded of his father every time he looked in the

One of these myths is about the mysterious lady of the lake. Barth expensively finds an interest in this story and finds fascination in the fact that he cannot grasp the truth in the old legend. This struggle is expressed as Barth says, “They say there’s a fraction of truth in every story, no matter how hard it may be to believe. In this, the Lady of Murdoch is likely no different” (Pyper, 134). This story regarding the Lady of the lake, where it is thought a lady haunts the lake and steals children, is described as a simple, truthless myth. Although, according to Barth’s perception on stories there must be truth in every story and finding the truth is what Barth and everyone else, struggle with. Additionally, Barth also experiences the struggle to decipher between appearance versus reality as he says, “Here in my room where I’m asleep, calling myself out from inside the mirror, from what you know can’t really be there but is there nevertheless” (Pyper, 178). This further explores the difficulties in believing in the reality of