All tagged secrets

Chapter 1: When A Lie Is Not A Lie

I argue that a lie is not a lie, as in “an untrue statement with intent to deceive,” when it is an unintentional protective measure employed in the aftermath of a traumatic event, as is the case with Celeste, Jane, Elena, Bebe, and Polly. Though each mother has her own story, and thus her own multifaceted reasons for keeping secrets from her children, their lies collectively stem from their inability to confront or process their traumas.

Introduction: The Meaning of Maternal Lies

Most moms, like most individuals, lie with purpose. They lie to protect themselves and their children from physical or psychological pain, to avoid confronting traumatic memories, to start over and fashion new identities, to resist the institution of motherhood, or simply because they do not see a reason to tell the full truth. This thesis explores the motives of the mothers in four modern novels.