Deception

Question 1

P1 - Opening

Answer 1

‘Honesty is a virtue’, but dishonesty is a reality in many peoples lives. So, why do individuals lie?

Question 2

P1 - Mapping and thesis

Answer 2

The stories of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, illustrate vividly some of the common reasons, including to gain approval, to achieve power, and to avoid negative consequences. Simply put, people lie for selfish reasons or personal gain.

Question 3

P2 - KR - achieve power
Lead in (first sentence)

Answer 3

Amir, in The Kite Runner, and Claudius, in Hamlet, demonstrate the use of lies to achieve power over others in small and big ways.

Question 4

P2 - KR - achieve power

Example 1

Answer 4

For example,
- in The Kite Runner, Amir amuses himself by lying to his friend who is unable to read about the meaning of words. As a result, Amir asserts that he is superior to his friend.

Question 5

P2 - KR - achieve power

Example 2

Answer 5

• Amir also lies when he frames his friend for theft as a way of trying to exercise personal power as the son of his father to get his dad to force Hassan and his father to leave.

Question 6

P2 - KR - achieve power

Concluding sentence

Answer 6

In both situations, Amir lies to, or about, Hassan in order to control him.

Question 7

P3 - H - achieve power

Intro sentence

Answer 7

In Hamlet, …
Claudius is two-faced and his actions and words reflect many lies about his responsibility in the homicidal death of Hamlet’s father.

Question 8

P3 - H - achieve power

Example 1 and 2

Answer 8

The ghost of Hamlet’s father points to Claudius’s deceptive actions, and Hamlet too in various ways, including the play he organizes, calls Claudius out as lying to become king.

Question 9

P3 - H - achieve power

Conclusion

Answer 9

Claudius’ power is so wrapped up in his deception that he is willing to even order the death of Hamlet to maintain his secret.

Question 10

P4 - KR - avoid negative consequences

Intro

Answer 10

Lying is also often used to avoid a negative consequence.

Question 11

P4 - KR - avoid negative consequences

Example 1

Answer 11

For example, in KR, Amir lies to Hassan’s father when questioned about Hassan acting withdrawn, and rather than admitting the true cause, Amir lies that he does not know and suggests that Hassan is sick.

Question 12

P4 - KR - avoid negative consequences

Example 2

Answer 12

Amir is not the only one who lies to avoid the consequences of truth. Amir’s father also lies in a substantial way by never accepting parental responsibility for actually being the biological father of Hassan.

Question 13

P4 - KR - avoid negative consequences

Conclusion

Answer 13

NONEXISTENT

Question 14

P5 - H - avoid negative consequences

Intro

Answer 14

The story of Hamlet is full of deception through lies and other actions. Hamlet is not immune.

Question 15

P5 - H - avoid negative consequences

Example 1

Answer 15

For instance,
- Hamlet acts ‘crazy’ as a behavioural lie about his true mental health in order to distract others from his plot to murder Claudius.

Question 16

P5 - H - avoid negative consequences

Example 2

Answer 16

• Hamlet also lies to protect his own life rather than to experience the negative consequence of death – by changing a letter meant to order his own execution into an order for the execution of two friends he believes have betrayed him.

Question 17

P5 - H - avoid negative consequences

Conclusion

Answer 17

NONEXISTENT

Question 18

P6 - Conclusion

Intro & restate mapping

Answer 18

Both the stories of Hamlet and KR are profiles for the very small and large ways that lying and thus deception are part of relationships – and frequently involved when people seek to gain approval, to access or hold power, and to avoid negative consequences.

Question 19

P6 - Conclusion

Restate thesis

Answer 19

However, lying for power usually has lasting negative effects – particularly in injuring relationships and trust.

Question 20

P6 - Conclusion

End statement

Answer 20

And, as has been said, ‘lies beget lies’.