The Human Condition In 'A Complicated Kindness'

Every novel is written about human nature for it is an interesting topic that most authors like to explore. The human condition describes how we, as humans, live our lives in a society following human instinct. The human condition, as seen in Miriam Toews’ A Complicated Kindness, is primarily based on how people are compulsive liars. Compulsive lying is a part of the human condition because people often do it out of instinct and it can’t be helped. The novel proves that the people of East Village function as liars because it shows how the characters lie to themselves, how they lie to each other, and it shows what happens when someone finds out the truth. Firstly, the human condition shown in the book is mainly based upon how the characters

One could say that Tash is the epitome of this because throughout the book Tash is seen as a rebel, going against everyone and the readers could finally understand why she acts this way during the moment she leaves as she repeats, “It’s all a fucking lie. It’s not right and it’s killing me” (146). This passage shows Tash admitting that she sees through the lies and she knows it is not right but she can not do anything so it eventually leads to the obvious outcome; Tash leaves her family and East Village. Moreover, Ray also leaves the village soon after he realizes the truth for Nomi claims, “If Ray wanted to keep his faith and stay in town...yeah, I’d have been a ghost to him, a kid he loved but couldn’t acknowledge” (240). This demonstrates how Ray has been lying to himself for so long after the departure of Tash and Trudie, but with Nomi, she is the only person he has left and he can not face the pain of lying to himself and thinking she is dead. In addition, Trudie feels the same sense of helplessness when she finds out the truth but she is unable to do anything once she realizes the truth. In a short passage of the book, the Mouth is seen looking lost as he stares at his stove trying to find answers, and a month later, Nomi discovers Trudie having the same expression on her face as she stares at the neighbour’s dog. Trudy tells her daughter, “I envy that dog for its freedom and obliviousness” (52). During this passage, Trudie finally realizes what was going on with the village and she could finally see through the lie but unlike the dog, Trudie does not have the same freedom to escape. This explains what happens to the characters when they finally grasp the truth, they are unable to do anything about the situation and are forced to leave East