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Just a semi-experienced high school student with oodles of opinions but absolutely no qualifications.
From the moment that we could talk, it was elucidated to us that the concept of deception is ‘bad.’ But suppose that we know that a lie is never revealed, nor will we be reprimanded, will we still tell the truth?
So, if we’re taught that honesty builds trust and trust builds integrity, then why do we lie? Whilst white lies may be tossed around sporadically, it was Vincent Freeman’s way of life. Living in a society filled with perfection fanatics – like Andrew Niccol’s ‘Gattaca’ where naturally conceived people are considered ‘invalids,’ deception to Vincent seems rather apt. Whereas in Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible,’ Abigail mendaciously protects herself at the expense of others. Lying is simply her blanket of protection. Though deception is deception, the reasons behind it and its consequences may contrast among everyone. Through the characters and the plot, ‘The Crucible’ and ‘Gattaca’ similarly epitomize the theme of deception; outlining both the positive and negative consequences that come with it.
Composed during a prime period in the United States known as The Second Red Scare, political advocate Arthur Miller had a story to tell. “The Crucible” is a play written in 1953 during a time when government-instigated propaganda against communism was at its zenith; this is known as McCarthyism. He states, “Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.” And if his quote is of any indication, he wanted to alert Americans on the prejudicial treatment of Puritans – specifically women – who he believed, were more likely to be tempted by the devil.
On the other hand, when Niccol devised Gattaca in 1997, the analysis of DNA encompassing heritable traits and genetic information that construct humanity was being conducted. Used as a direct form of conveying a message, the characters in his film prove that ‘bad genes’ still unearth their way to a ‘perfect body.’ However, though these two works are completely different, they imply a mutual theme of deception.
Concealed as a virtuous, fledging young girl afflicted by witchcraft, ‘The Crucible’s’ Abigail Williams thrives on deception. Her fraudulent indictments of witchcraft spiral uncontrollably; provoking hysteria in the town of Salem. There is no reason for the townsfolk not to trust a scarred orphan who witnessed her parents’ pitiless murder and scalping. It’s unthinkable that such a ‘lowly’ individual like herself would even dare lie to authority, yet she still does. Ironically, Judge Danforth declares that he has “until this moment not the slightest bit” that his “children are lying” to him (Act 3, pg. 91). Abigail creates fabrications with the assurance that her uncle, Reverend Parris, will always protect her from authority. Though lying to authority seems enigmatic and wrong, is it under any circumstance explicable?
Set in the not-so-distant future, Andrew Niccol’s film, ‘Gattaca,’ is a dystopian society that manipulates technology to construct genetically immaculate people. Degenerate Vincent Freeman avows, “I belonged to a new underclass … we now have discrimination down to a science.” The prejudice of people is no longer fixated on race, gender, or class but rather, on their genetics. Vincent is “a member of a new and particularly detested segment of society” and was more “commonly known as a ‘borrowed ladder’, or a ‘degenerate.’” Vincent is obligated to go to lethal lengths to derive the genetically superior – but now paralyzed – Jerome Morrow’s genes just to accomplish his dreams of traveling to space. So, could it be that the combination of two wrongs – society’s inequality towards ‘invalids’ and Vincent’s pretending to be Jerome – makes a right?
Covering up her wrongdoings, Abigail accuses Tituba of witchcraft and claims to have ‘seen her with the devil.’ She panics when she is suspected of witchcraft and blurts, “Sometimes I wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body. I hear her laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados song and tempting me with- (Act 1, pg. 44).” Acting as the catalyst that drives the play, the reason behind Abigail’s lies is to avoid punishment for witchcraft and her harlotry. From having an affair with a married man to then drinking potions to kill his wife, she was seeking vengeance. Abigail never divulges the reason why she was dismissed from the Proctors’ household. Instead, she libels Elizabeth’s reputation and claims she is pure “… a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman” (Act 1, pg.11). Eventually, John terminates this lie by revealing his adultery to the courtroom to protect his wife from Abigail’s accusations. Abigail simply wanted John Proctor. And she does the utmost to get him.
It’s as if we live in a society where deception is so common, that sometimes it’s all we expect.
Vincent spends his time scrutinizing other people accomplishing his aspirations, which further fuels his drive. He may dearth impeccably engineered genetics, but Vincent has something that most valid lack; desire. Vincent, as an ‘in-valid,’ was told that the “only way you’re going to see the inside of the spaceship is if you’re cleaning it,” by his father. Whereas the ‘valid’ proves to be a prevailing barren society, lacking in humanity, aspirations, and valor. These people were destined for great futures by their DNA; all it took was a drop of blood. Beyond this, nothing else mattered.
But perhaps we ought to dig deeper into the reasoning behind Vincent’s lies and the consequences that shadow it. This leads to him lying to everyone around him, Vincent’s desire is so strong that he puts his relationships, health, and himself on the line to fulfill all he needs in the little time he has on earth. Ultimately, he put his dreams before anything else and had to lie to achieve them.
Maybe the intention behind Vincent’s lying appears morally acceptable whereas Abigail’s not as much. But both these fabrications seem rather outrageous. It can be said that lying is okay, as long as no one is affected by it. So, if ‘The Crucible’ was written roughly seventy years ago and ‘Gattaca’ is set in the future, then where are we now?
In February 2020, Quaden Bayles’ video – a nine-year-old little person – intending to raise awareness of bullying circulated the internet. But shortly after, Quaden became the target of a scurrilous rumor. It claimed that he was an eighteen-year-old scammer who endorsed a deceptive story for his gain. Instantly, this rumor had people maltreating him for lying (Mikkelson, 2020). It’s as if we live in a society where deception is so common that sometimes it’s all that we expect.
Together, ‘Gattaca’ and ‘The Crucible’ establish the distinction between good and bad ruse. Living in a bigoted society where people gauge a person's value by their genetic quotient, it can be morally acceptable for Vincent to lie. On the other hand, Abigail’s lies comprise the manipulation of Salem; which ultimately leads the townsfolk to their deaths. It could be said that deceptions are never inadvertent; always crafted. Thus, whatever reasons you may have behind it, in the end, you are still lying. Eventually, all your so-called ‘miniscule’ lies will snowball into finer lies and you will no longer be able to distinguish the truth within yourself or humanity. These lies will cause a loss of respect for yourself and those around you. And it’s possible that one who has no respect ceases to love. So, who does it affect, you or them?
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