The Ways We Lie By Stephanie Ericsson

A toolbox filled with many different tools that have many different purposes can be used to put broken things back together, or take whole things apart. This all depends on the person with the tools and their intentions. One could also substitute the toolbox for the act of lying and all of the tools inside of the box for the different types of lies that there are. In the essay written by Stephanie Ericsson, “The Ways We Lie” she examines and explains from her personal experience the different types of lies that there are. One might say that lying is immoral, and a terrible thing to do, but this just depends on how you lie and what your intentions are with the lies that you tell. If one deliberately puts oneself in a situation where they must commit a selfish lie in order to protect their reputation solely, then this would be an immoral lie. However, if one lies in order to help prevent harm or sadness upon another person than there is a logical and unselfish reason for the lie. The selfish lies are the most hurtful. The idea of lying or keeping the truth from people who care about you in order to protect your image is purely selfish. For example, in the essays written by Kate Chopin “The Storm”

Calixta has to pretend she is happy and that she is not sad to be with Bobinot especially when she knows Alcee is happy with Clarisse. “I don’ want to kiss you, Bobinot,” she said, turning away again, “not-to-day. Some other time” (‘Cadian Ball 5). In this quotation Calixta is merely accepting her reality and lying to herself by doing so. Calixta is putting up this façade to make Bobinot happy and to attempt to even trick herself in thinking she is or can be happy as well. This lie, even though it is hurting Calixta, is the most moral lie in the story. Calixta is lying in order to please the people around her who care about her in an unselfish