Lying's Intentions

When we think of lying thoughts of deceit, manipulation, and trickery usually creep into our minds. This is because as in most cases lying is wrong. Such is pointed out when Don Pedro concocts his plan to match Benedick and Beatrice by spreading lies never said by either of them about their supposed deep affection to each other. Don Pedro knowingly poses a rehearsed question concerning Beatrice's affection as the innocent bystander Benedick listens on as he says, "It were good that Benedick knew of it by some other / if she will not discover it" (II.3.7-8). Don Pedro has no right to say anything of the sort as he is being careless and putting the well being of two innocent people at stake while standing aside uninvolved in the actual outcome. Similar actions of lying are bad as well. Lying on your tax return to save money is the same as stealing from the government. Many unethical choices are usually woven into each other and can lead one to make more and more of them.

Lying exists in an appropriate form as well. At the masquerade Antonio playfully lies to Ursula as he denies to be himself when he answers her question by saying, "To tell you true, I counterfeit him" (II.1.93). This lie is only employed to enhance the general mood and does not risk harming anyone. Lying is also acceptable when it is deemed appropriate by the situation at hand. In poker, deceit and manipulation are part of the game and lying becomes a common practice in which everyone partakes. Although lying is generally wrong because it can disrupt fragile circumstances, there are some solid situations where it can even be encouraged!

Poem and Analysis

1 Some men never think of it.

2 You did. You'd come along

3 And say you'd nearly brought me flowers

4 But something had gone wrong.

5 The shop was closed. Or you had doubts -

6 The sort that minds like ours

7 Dream up incessantly. You thought

8 I might not want your flowers.

9 It made me smile and hug you then.

10 Now I can only smile.

11 But, Look, the flowers you nearly bought

12 Have lasted all this while.

- Wendy Cope

The poem "Flowers" by Wendy Cope uses the central metaphor to compare flowers with the abstract idea of thoughtfulness. The character that she is recounting of in the poem has not brought her any flowers but was indeed thinking about it as the third line says "And say you'd nearly brought me flowers." This thought, however not carried out, has affected the author as much as if the flowers were truly there as she says, "It made me smile and hug you then" (9). In the last two lines the author describes how the mere thought of bringing hers flowers had an even greater effect than flowers could themselves as she says, "But, Look, the flowers you nearly brought,/ Have lasted all this while" (11-12). This poem also contains end rhyme between the second and fourth lines of each stanza.

This poem has a compelling message. It reminds me that material objects don't mean nearly as much as the thought and care of others around. The people in our lives are what truly matter, and too often we divert attention away from that and place value on objects. These objects have no feelings and cannot support and stand by as can the important people in our lives. As the saying goes, "It's the thought that counts."