ipl-logo

Thematic Essay: The Lie

829 Words4 Pages

The Lie- Thematic Essay

In most of our lives we have encountered someone who believes that they’re entitled to everything because of their reputation or wealth. There’s times when kids are snobby to others because they have better clothes, a bigger house, more money, or even because they’re ‘popular’ and the other kid isn’t. In the story The Lie by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, there’s multiple times when Eli’s parents believe that because they are Remezel’s, Eli deserves different things than what the other students would receive at the Whitehill Academy for Boys. This story proves to us that you shouldn't act like you are entitled everything and you won't always get your way because of wealth and reputation because when you do you start to take everything …show more content…

Remenzel are talking about what Eli’s dorm room will be like.. Sylvia says that because he is a Remenzel, he deserves to get the best things, including the fireplace. Where Dr. Remenzel says that they shouldn't be throwing the Remenzel name around just to get the better things. “That would double the cost… The fireplaces are only for seniors too… Do you think I should demand that Eli be given a fireplace in his room? “ This line is significant because in the beginning of the story, Sylvia said because Eli is a Remenzel he deserves the best things even though he doesn't fit the requirements of it. “... I just can't help thinking people named Remenzel are entitled to ask for a little something extra.” Sylvia thinks that because the Remenzel’s have been at the school since it opened he is entitled to everything and more.
Another detail from the book, The Lie, shows Sylvia believes that Eli should look and act the best in the school even if he isn't entitled to the blazer, for example “I only wish Eli had a blazer on.” Dr. Remenzel then went on and reminded her that Eli wasn’t entitled to a blazer “I know that… Why are you always afraid I’ll embarrass you?” These quotes are important because even though Sylvia likes to remind us that she knows Eli isn’t entitled to something she still believes he should have it, just because he would look …show more content…

While this is slightly true they forget the text says this, “... You are not to ask for anything special for Eli- not anything.” Even if Eli didn't lie there was still going to be the pressure on him to be perfect and the double standard that Dr. Remenzel gives out would have still brought him to the council members to get Eli into the school because Dr. Remenzel believes that they are better, until Eli doesn't meet the standards and he's going to do everything he can to get Eli into the school because he thinks he's entitled to

Show More
Related
575 Words | 3 Pages

Eliezer’s best traits come out and allow him to survive his terrible ordeal, which are adaptability, determination, patience, and perseverance. Elie uses his father as his reason to persevere and keep on going through. For example, whenever Eliezer’s father dies, Eliezer loses all function and does not even want to recount how empty and lonely he felt. On page 32, Eliezer describes how great his fear of

Read More
1088 Words | 5 Pages

“ That presented Franek with the opportunity to torment him and , on a daily basis, to thrash him savagely…” ( Page 55). This illustrates that with what Franek did to Elie’s Father , Elie is fearful what Franek can do. And if Elie does the wrong things to provoke Franek it could be fatal to his Father’s death. This causes Elie to question if his father worth it because if Elie save the gold crown, then he well have money if he does end up getting out.

Read More
1318 Words | 6 Pages

The American dream is a dream of a land in which one can prosper with ambition and hard work. This idea has created many illusions for some because in reality the American dream is proven to be something that is rarely achieved. No individual is guaranteed success or destined for failure, but it is apparent that women, people of color, and those born into poverty will face greater obstacles than others, despite being a greater part of the American population. An author that tackles the issue of class in the United States is Gregory Mantsios. In his essay, “Class in America-2009”, Mantsios aims to prove that class affects people’s lives in drastic ways.

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

When students are unaware of the history of social class, they begin to believe false information, such as, poor people deserve to be poor. Loewen does a great job of pointing out student’s misunderstanding of social status and strongly believes that it is the high school text books to

Read More
575 Words | 3 Pages

And why wasn’t god answering. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah they were at the Solemn service and Elie was not thrilled to be at the ceremony, the Kapos putting on the

Read More
409 Words | 2 Pages

That knowing having power, money, and the color of your skin your own choice could not make you happy. ““Say, buddy,” I says, “If I had your money, I’d be always having a good time.” “No, you wouldn’t,” said the white boy” (258). The short story ends with that exact realization for the narrator, “ What do you suppose is the matter with rich white folks? Why you reckon they ain’t happy?”

Read More
732 Words | 3 Pages

This was very emotional for Eli because he was his best friend and he was thought to be dead. This had a huge impact on Eli because it made Eli depressed. Eli was also depressed because he was the person that he looks up to because he was smart. This was internal because it hurt Eli’s emotions the most. This the internal and External conflict of the

Read More
632 Words | 3 Pages

1. “I am still a little afraid of missing something if I forget that, as my father said snobbishly, and I snobbishly repeat, a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth.’ Ch.1 Analysis: nick is tying to say that Money isn’t always what people are born into; especially in this time people who are born into money are considered the upper class and above all. Some people are just a better person in general even without being born into a rich family he doesn’t know if a person has to be born into wealth to have natural class or just be classy on their own.

Read More
485 Words | 2 Pages

During selections, Elie’s father was marked. This scared him, and he thought he may lose his life. He gave Elie a knife and a spoon. This may not seem like much, but back then, they were worth a lot more. Elie could have said that they were worthless, but instead, he cherished them until he found out that his dad would no longer be executed.

Read More
779 Words | 4 Pages

In his story, “A&P”, John Updike shows that sometimes people unhappy with their opportunities judge people based upon their social class causing bad decisions and later disappointment. Updike utilizes symbolism, irony, and characterization to display the impact of a person’s social class on society. The different social classes of people create a barrier between them leading to the desperation of trying to fit on a different level. Social status is the way a person lives their life and the lifestyle they

Read More
1025 Words | 5 Pages

and exactly what he has grown up doing and reading. “Eli was enabled to participate in ways similar to his brothers’ and sisters’, making him a reader like them” (Fishman 240). Fishman goes into detail about Eli Jr. and the way his world has portrayed reading to him. But yet again, her focus shifts after this. She puts the reader in an Amish school setting and describes the events going on.

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

Lastly, Claudette couldn’t “make the blank, chilly bedroom feel like home.” It was hard for her since she has lived in a cave for her whole life. Now Claudette is in this room and it feels

Read More
1028 Words | 5 Pages

That 's my family... Will you turn it off for a sick man?.. I 'll turn it down”(pg52). She cares more about the parlor walls then the well being of her own husband prioritizing the parlor walls over him. As do the parlor walls seem near essential for her happiness.

Read More
1190 Words | 5 Pages

Stephanie Ericsson begins her explorative essay, “The Ways We Lie,” with a personal anecdote of all the lies she fabricated in one day. She told her bank that a deposit was in the mail when it was not, told a client that the traffic had been bad when she was late for other reasons, told her partner that her day was fine when it was really exhausting, and told her friend she was too busy for lunch when she just was not hungry, all in the course of a day. She shifts from talking about herself to talking about everyone, claiming that all people lie, exaggerate, minimize, keep secrets, and tell other lies. But, like herself, most still consider themselves honest people. She describes a week in which she tried to never tell a lie; it was debilitating, she claims.

Read More
596 Words | 3 Pages

At the very beginning, Eli’s parents' have a lack of understanding of his individuality causing Eli to deny his own feelings. When Eli receives a rejection letter from his high school, Whitehill, he keeps this a secret from his parents to avoid their ultimate disappointment. From the very start of the story, Sylvia believes her son is just another Remenzel among all the past Remenzel’s who have been on the honor list that will be attending Whitehill. Whitehill has been the high school for generations in the Remenzel family history.

Read More

More about Thematic Essay: The Lie

Related Topics

Open Document