Schafer 1

Alex Schafer

Mrs. Field

LNG 406

23 March 2011

“The Ways We Lie” Questions

Questions on Meaning:

1. What is Ericsson’s hesis?

I believe that Ericsson states her thesis when she says “We lie. We all do… Or does it?” in
paragraph three. She states the idea that while we all lie and see it as harmless, it may actually
be very significant.

2. Does Ericsson think it’s possible to eliminate lies from our lives? What
evidence does she offer?

Ericsson does not believe that it is possible to eliminate lies from our lies. There is evidence of
this opinion when she says “I once tried going a whole week without telling a lie, and it was
paralyzing… There must be some merit to lying.” Ericsson establishes the idea that lying has
become fundamental to society. People use it to simplify problems too often for it to be removed
from our lives.

4. What is this essay’s purpose?

I believe that Ericsson’s purpose in this essay was to shed some light on certain forms of lying
that we do not always consider to be lying. I believe that she is also trying to convey the severity
of lying. She starts out with simple forms of lying that nearly everyone uses. She highlights the
idea that in using these lies we are trying to simplify situations and make life easier. As the
essay goes on, each new example of a type of lie is harsher than the one before it. I believe that
by organizing her essay in this form, Ericsson shows that a simple white lie is just a severe as a
major one.

Questions on Writing Strategies:

1. Ericsson starts out by recounting her own four-lie day (par. 1-2). What is the effect of this
introduction?

I believe that by starting her essay in this way Ericsson is show that she is in now way trying to
belittle the reader. She shows that she to is a liar and as far as she knows is no better than the
reader. Without this introduction this essay would appear to be much more scolding than
expository.
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2. At the beginning of each kind of lie, Ericsson provides an epigraph, a short quotation that
forecasts a theme. Which of these epigraphs work best, do you think? What are your criteria
for judgment?

I think that the epigraph that is most effective is the one for omission which reads “The cruelest
lies are often told in silence.” –R. L. Stevenson. I think that this quote is a good choice because
of the truth in it. While the other epigraphs are effective, they do not convey the general idea of
their entry as effectively. This epigraph essentially summarizes the entire entry that follows it as
opposed to simply giving a relatable example.

3. What is the message of Ericsson’s conclusion? Does the conclusion work well? Why, or
why not?

I think that the message of the conclusion is that while lying is not going to be eliminated, we
can decrease its use. If we continue to accept all of the constant lying, the frequency will
increase. If we trying to decrease our lies, we will stop tolerating the lack of truth and therefore
truth will increase. I think that this conclusion is effective. It restates Ericsson’s purpose and
also reiterates the idea that lying is not going to be eliminated. It ties together all of her
examples and her thesis well.

4. Examine the way Ericsson uses definition and example to support her classification. Which
definitions are clearest? Which examples are the most effective? Why?

I believe that the clearest definitions are those for “The White Lie,” “Facades,” “Ignoring the
Plain Facts,” and “Omission.” The definitions are very effective because the names themselves
are relatively self explanatory. Examples are very effective with regards to “Groupthink,”
“Dismissal,” and “Delusion.” Because the titles are not as self explanatory, the use of examples
helps to show what they classifications of lying are. By using a specific example, Ericsson
defines the classes in a more relatable manner. Examples were especially helpful with delusions
since it encompasses multiple forms of lying.

Questions of Language:

1. In paragraph 35 Ericsson writes, “Our acceptance of lies becomes a cultural cancer that
eventually shrouds and reorders reality until moral garbage becomes as invisible to us as
water is to a fish.” How do the two figures of speech in this sentence—cancer and garbage—
relate to reach other?

Both cancer and garbage are used to describe the lying. The word “cancer” is used to describe
the disease-like spread of lying. It is used so often that it has become a seemingly unstoppable
force. Garbage is used to describe the effect of lying. It produces falsities that can cloud ones
moral views. With both the ability to spread and corrupt, lying is a very dangerous thing.
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2. Occasionally Ericsson’s anger shows through, as in paragraphs 12-13 and 18-20. Is the tone
appropriate in these cases? Why, or why not?

I believe that Ericsson’s tone is appropriate in both cases. With regards to paragraphs 12-13,
James Porter was a sick man. Ericsson has every right to be angry that the Catholic Church
would ignore such corruption within its system and continually allow, and, in a way, support the
perverted actions of this man. With regards to paragraphs 18-20, Ericsson has been lied to about
a topic that serves as a foundation for religion. The fact that one of the ideas that she has
accepted as a basic truth is false could call into question what else is true. If something that has
been taught as a truth to you since you were young is false, then what exactly is true? In this
instance Ericsson probably feels that she has been robbed of her right to know the truth.