Iris Farley

Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay

Deception Causes Tragedy

We, as humans, tend to deceive people more often than not, but not always with the

outcome we had hoped for. To quote the award winning author, Rachel Hawthorne, Deception

may give us what we want for the present, but it will always take away in the end. (Dark of the

Moon). Deception is also the common theme in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The

Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and Hamlet by William Shakespeare, which all ended

in tragedy. Deception is depicted in the three pieces of literature through the characters

surreptitious actions of lying by omission, living a double life, and having bad intentions which

all resulted in horrible tragedy that could have been avoided.

Lying by omission is one way that deception is depicted in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott

Fitzgerald. In The Great Gatsby there was a lot of infidelity in Tom and Daisys marriage as well

as deception. Tom and Daisy were married, but little did Daisy know that Tom had a mistress.

Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisys and a famous tennis player, told Nick Carraway of Toms affair

at dinner after Tom rushed out of the room to talk to his mistress on the phone. Jordan told Nick,

Toms got some woman in New York. (Pg. 15) Because Daisy didn't actually ask Tom about

his affair, Tom never told her. However, it is believed that Daisy knew about the affair because

of how she reacted to the phone calls. This goes the other way as well though. Daisy began to see

Gatsby in a romantic way. Daisy would sneak over to Gatsbys. They would dance, talk, and fall

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
in love with each other all over again. Because Tom never asked, Daisy never told him. They

both lied in order not to hurt the others feelings and to stay together. Gatsby was also a character

that lied by omission. Gatsby lied for love, but that doesn't mean it was the right thing for him to

do. Gatsby should have told Daisy about his past before their relationship became more serious.

Jordan Baker was telling the love story of Gatsby and Daisy to Nick after a big party at Gatsbys.

Jordan explained, Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay. (Pg.

78) Gatsby told Daisy why he had bought the house, but not how he got all the money to do so.

Because she never asked, he never said anything. This was tragic because of the emotional stress

this put on Daisy and the stress it put on her and Toms marriage.

Jordan and Nick already knew Gatsbys reasoning for his lying but refused to say

anything. Nick begins the novel by explaining that his father told him that many werent as

fortunate as Nick was. His words impacted Nicks life and his way of being. Nick explained to

the reader, Im inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious

nature to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. (Pg. 01) Nick Carraway

heard many secrets and rumors about people, but because it was not his secret to tell, he refused

to say anything. This caused him to lie by omission and open himself up to more secrets by more

people. Nick began to feel guilty as the secrets began to grow heavier on his conscience. This

made a tragic situation for Nick and helped the chain reactions of the novel occur. Lying by

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
omission was evident in The Great Gatsby by the characters supercilious actions and lack of

curiosity.

Lying by omission was also common in The Glass Menagerie through Toms deception

and Amandas dressing of Laura. Tom decided to work with Amanda in order to find Laura a

man. Tom decided Jim was a potential candidate to date his sister but told Amanda,One little

warning. He doesn't know about Laura. I didn't let on that we had dark ulterior motives. I just

said, why don't you come and have dinner with us? He said okay and that was the whole

conversation. (Pg. 47 Scene 5). He lied to Jim about the true reason for him coming to dinner

due to his neglect to tell him of the plans for Laura. Amanda decided to dress Laura up and make

her look very nice for dinner with Jim. Amanda told Laura, They call them Gay Deceivers!

(Pg.52 Scene 6). Laura then responded, You make it seem like we were setting a trap. (Pg. 52

Scene 6). Amanda is trying to make Laura look unlike herself, a prettier version. This is so she

looks more attractive to deceive the gentlemen callers. This caused a lot of emotional distress on

Laura which upset Tom and contributed to him leaving. All the actions towards making Laura

look more attractive or desirable to Jim was all deception and also lying by omission.

Hamlet was also full of people lying by omission. Hamlets father had just died due to his

Uncle killing him and Hamlet was not impressed by his mothers immediate marriage not a

month later, but he never told his parents of his frustration with their marriage. Hamlet

explained, But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue. (Act 1 Scene 2 line 163) Hamlet

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
also decided to act crazy. Although his friends know, he decided to deceive the rest of the

kingdom in his acts of madness. Hamlet told Horatio and Marcellus, And still your fingers on

your lips, I pray. (Act 1 Scene 5 Line 209) to be sure they wouldnt tell anyone of what they

saw. No one ever asked about their whereabouts or what they saw, so Horatio and Marcellus

never spoke a word about that day. Claudius was also a character that chose to deceive the

kingdom. Claudius killed King Hamlet in order to take his crown. This crime is also categorized

as lying by omission due to no one asking or questioning Claudius of his innocence in the matter.

Both Hamlet and Claudius deceived the kingdom in order to fulfill a certain purpose whether it is

to make the royals look bad or to steal the crown.

Deception was also depicted in the three works of literature through characters living

double lives. The Great Gatsby is a novel where having a double life is evident and helps depict

deception. Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom are all deceiving people by living a double life for their own

personal gain. Tom was living the double life with his mistress. He is a many from old money

who goes to a nasty apartment in order to be with his girlfriend. Nick describes the ash heaps as,

The only building in sight was a small block of yellow brick sitting on the edge of the waste

land, a sort of compact Main Street ministering to it, and contiguous to absolutely nothing. (Pg.

24). Tom Buchanan left the life of wealth and poloponies to descend into one of the poor slums

for his girlfriend. His mistress is the gain of Toms double life. Daisy is very similar in that of

her affair being her double life. Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan who is from old money. She

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
isnt allowed to do much due to her husbands controlling manner. Gatsby, however, is from new

money. He has expensive things that could, arguably, be better than anything Tom has. Daisy,

Nick, and Gatsby were at Gatsbys mansion. Gatsby began to throw shirts and Daisy would catch

them. The shirts represent the life she could have and the life that Gatsby could give her. She

stopped and began to cry, It makes me sad because Ive never seen such- such beautiful shirt

before. (Pg. 92). Daisys double life is opposite that of Toms. Instead of downgrading in order

to be with someone, she upgraded. Again, this is for her own personal gain which is Gatsby.

Gatsby also lives a double life. Gatsby is known for his wealth and parties. However, Gatsby

lives a double life in crime with Meyer Wolfshiem. Nick and Gatsby were at a party when Nick

first met Meyer Wolfsheim. When Nick asked Gatsby who Wolfsheim was and if he was a

businessman. Gatsby told him, No, Hes a gambler Hes the man who fixed the World Series

back in 1919. (Pg. 73). Gatsby lives the double life of crime and gang related activities as welll

as a life of glamer, fame, and money. This is also for his personal gain of protection and more

wealth and connections.This is also for personal gain such as infidelity or wealth.

Tom and Laura both live double lives than the one that their mother is aware of in The

Glass Menagerie. Tom always told his mother that he went to the movies every night. Amanda

and Tom began fighting and Amanda screamed, I dont believe that lie! (Pg. 24 Scene 3). Tom

actually went out to the bars to drink and gamble. He didn't return until very late at night.

During the fight him and Amanda had he said, Im leading a double-life, a simple, honest

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
warehouse worker by day, by night a dynamic czar of the underworld, Mother. (Pg. 24 Scene

3). He tried to deceive his mother though she really didn't believe his lies. He did, however, keep

his whereabouts away from Laura. Laura said, All this time at the movies.(Pg. 26 Scene 4)

and Tom responded, There was a very long program (Pg. 26 Scene 4). Laura also lives a

double life that her mother and Tom are unaware of until it is discovered by Amanda. Laura is

supposed to be going to a college class for typing and without telling her mother, she dropped

out. She would then tell her mother that she was going to class or practicing her typing but,

instead, she would go on walks around the park. This deception was so so that she wouldnt hurt

her mothers feelings, disappoint her mother, or get in trouble. Both Laura and Tom deceived

their mother and each other in order to spare the feelings of the others in the household.

Double lives were also evident in Hamlet through different characters and their reactions.

Hamlet lived the double life of madness. He was mad at one point then not at another. This was

to really convince everyone that he was truely mad and to catcht he conscience of Cladius. His

double life could also be seen with his involvement with Ophelia. Hamlet would write Ophelia

extremely deep and sincere love letters that no one knew about until Polonius found one.

Polonius read Hamlets letter aloud to Claudius and Gertrude. He read, Doubt thou the stars are

fire, doubt thou the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love. (Act 2 Scene

2 lines 124- 127). Although Hamlet seems crazy to everyone else, he is sweet towards Ophelia.

Ophelia is also a character that depicts living a double life. It is believed that she had sexual

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
relations with Hamlet. Her father however was unaware of her relations but warned her not to

speak to Hamlet without either him or Laertes there with her for people may start to talk. Laertes

was hypocritical when he told Ophelia not to have sexual relations with Hamlet and to behave

herself. He lived the double life of partying and other things that his father was unaware of.

These double lives caused deception on who the characters were believed to be.

Not only did The Great Gatsby have characters with double lives but they also had bad

intentions. These bad intentions helped cause the tragedy at the end of rthe book using deception.

Daisy is one character that had bad intentions; Daisy was planning to leave Tom for Gatsby.

Gatsby and Tom argued, Youre not going to take care of her any more. Im not? Tom

opened his eyes wide and laughed. He couldnt afford to control himself now. Whys that?

Daisys leaving you. (Pg. 133). Toms surprise to this news depicts how deceived he was by

Daisy. Gatsby was the one that broke the deception and revealed Daisys bad intention of

leaving. Gatsby had deceived people in order to hide his bad intentions and his double life. Tom

told Daisy, He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side street drug-stores here and in Chicago

and sold grain alcohol over the counter. Thats one of his little stunts. I picked him for a

bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasnt far wrong. (Pg. 133). Gatsbys deception was

to cover up his bad intentions and illegal actions of selling alcohol during the Prohibition.

Although his bad intentions were unintentional at first, his decision to deceive Gatsby tell

George Wilson whose car ran over Myrtle caused the deception and overall tragedy. When Nick

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
asked Tom what he had said to George Wilson, Tom said, I told him the truth He threw dust

into your eyes just like he did Daisys, but he was a tough one. He ran over Myrtle like youd run

over a dog and never even stopped his car. (Pg. 178). Tom stabbed Gatsby in the back not

knowing the truth. He didn't tell Daisy whose fault it really was for the death of her love, Gatsby.

He deceived both Daisy and Gatsby, only Nick knew the truth behind what Tom did. Nick

should have told Daisy what he knew and if Tom truly cared for Daisy, he would have told her

what he said. Toms deception was to cover the reason for the tragedy that was Gatsbys death.

Bad intentions were also depicted in The Glass Menagerie through Toms planning to

leave his mother and Laura. Tom makes the money for the household, pays the bills, and is the

only one that has a job. Nick was trying to explain how he felt to Jim on the terrace before

dinner. He told Jim, I am tired of the movies and I am about to move! (Pg. 61 Scene 6).

Without Tom, Laura and Amanda wouldnt have any money to pay the bills or even get

groceries. Tom kept Laura and Amanda in the dark about his bad intentions of moving and

leaving them. He also stopped paying the electric bills without telling Amanda. She finally

noticed when the lights went out during dinner. Amanda asked Tom, That light bill I gave you

several days ago. The one I told you we got the notices about?... You didn't neglect to pay it by

any chance? (Pg. 68 Scene 7). He, presumably, used the money to buy alcohol or lost it all

gambling. Tom deceived his family to cover his bad intentions of leaving them with nothing.

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
In Hamlet, Hamlet has bad intentions which he uses deception to cover. One of the bad

intentions is to act crazy in order to make the royal family look atrocious. He thought it would

put more pressure and light onto King Claudiuss flaws. Hamlet also had full intentions to kill

his uncle, the king of Denmark. Hamlet said, My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth! (Act

4 Scene 4 Line 69). These bad intentions are masked by Hamlets so called madness and

depression. This deception made it easier for Hamlet to plot against the King without being

caught and suffering the consequences of his actions. Although the deception made sense and

worked for the moment, it doesn't make the plotting and action of the murder rightous.

At the end of all the novels the deception wore off and the tragedy of the events was

revealed. In The Great Gatsby, after the deception to hide the infidelity, illegal actions, and

horrible intentions, all resulted in the death of Gatsby and the death of the love between Daisy

and Gatsby. The tragedy could have been avoided if the characters had chosen to deceive less

and act upon their thoughts. For example, if Daisy had told Tom of her infidelity and left with

Gatsby, Myrtle would have never been run over, Tom wouldnt have told Wilson of Gatsby, and

Daisy and Gatsby would be far away from anyone who could cause harm to her or Gatsby.

Similarly, in The Glass Menagerie, the play ended in tragedy but of a different kind. Tom

left Laura and Amanda to fend for themselves. Being that neither had a job and women in this

time period were very dependent on men, this was a travesty. If Laura had never deceived her

mother and stayed in school, she would have possibly gotten a job to help support the family.

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 Iris Farley
Honors Literature
December 17th, 2015
Synthesis Essay
Also, if Tom had been honest with his mother and left when he first thought of it, it wouldnt be

such a shock to Amanda. Of course, the deception towards Jim could have spared Lauras heart

break because if he knew the real reason he was there, then he could have let her down easy or

never had showed up.

Another tragedy was seen in the play Hamlet. This tragedy was worse than the others

due to everyone except Horatio being killed. Hamlet had killed Laertes, who had wounded him

with poison. Hamlet also killed King Claudius who accidently killed Queen Gertrude while

trying to kill Hamlet. This also could have been avoided if the King had never tried to deceive

the kingdom and fessed up to the murder of King Hamlet. This also would have avoided

Hamlets madness and his hurting Ophelia which later caused her death. Ophelias death was

the situation that got between Hamlet and Laertes and later caused them to kill each other. All of

the bad intentions, living double lives, and lying by omission cause chain events that, overall,

caused the pieces of literature to end in tragedy that could have been avoided if the characters

had chosen to not try and deceive others.

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