Jayla Stokes
October, 3, 2010
Professor Johann
“The Lie” essay
1st Hour
The Consequences of a Lie
You lie once, you lie again. It starts to become a habit. More than half the people in the world lie. Lying isn’t a good way out of situations, sometime it is ok to get people out of trouble, but it is never ok to get people into trouble. This follows the story “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. This story teaches a lesson, shows different types of pressure. And shows you how people can change within the situation.
In the beginning of the story, there is a boy named Eli. He is no ordinary boy; at least I don’t think so. His family is very, very smart and wants the best for Eli. This is the big day, Eli needs to pass this test to get into Whitehill. Whitehill is a high school that is for very smart students. Everyone in Eli’s family attended this high school. Eli is complete with his test, all he is probably thinking is I have to pass. Eli ended failing the test and received a letter from Whitehill that explains that he didn’t make it in. Eli did not reach the expectations. But instead of Eli telling Mr.Remenzel and Mrs. Remenzel he decided to have his whole family ride up to orientation while he sat in the back seat in shame. They end up finding out that Eli wasn’t accepted in the school by the principle. Mr.Remenzel was embarrassed and started a commotion begging for Eli to go to the school. This made Eli feel worse about himself.
Guilty and feelings are two different things, and so is pressure. Peer pressure is the most common type of pressure. Today we face all different types of pressure, but in the story “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Eli faces peer pressure. Eli took a test knowing it was for Whitehill, everyone in his family had passed it. So why wouldn’t he want to? His parents kept on telling him and telling him that he needed to get in. So he had peer pressure to get into the school.
Mr.Remenzel in the beginning of the story was very nice. And Mrs.Remenzel was more a perfectionist. Mrs.Remenzel thought that on the ride up to orientation that Eli had to have everything. Just because he is a Remenzel. Mr.Remenzel was saying that Eli shouldn’t deserve any special attention. But get this, when they heard that Eli wasn’t excepted in the school. Guess who got angry. Mr.Remenzel he was saying how Eli is a Remenzel and all his family went there and Eli should be excepted, but Mr.Remenzel went to find Eli and told that is ok. Why wouldn’t you just tell us the truth.
Lying, the blame, understanding, wrong. All these words explain the story. “The Lie” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Sure Eli should’ve have lied to get himself out of trouble, but he should have told the truth. Truth is the solution for problems. Mr.Remenzel and Eli may have barriers in between, but they can always be mended together.
