Most of us think lying is bad. Or at least, that's what we say when quizzed by little kids. So why do people lie so much? We might say it's complicated, but if we look at In Darkness, we can see that sometimes it's to save someone's feelings. For instance, Shorty lies to Biggie about believing in voodoo since his boss loves the supernatural stuff. Other times, it's to help someone out. Shorty's mom tells him that his beloved sister is still alive, after all, so he won't become jaded.
And then there are the lies that are out there just to get something good for yourself. When the General pulls one over on Toussaint, we're super annoyed at the guy, but we also realize that he is carrying out a mission (read: capture Toussaint). See what we mean? Lying is complicated.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Why does Manman lie to Shorty about Marguerite? Do you think she is right to do so? Why does she finally come clean?
- What is more important: the motivation behind the lie, or the lie itself? Does the book tell us whether lying is okay in certain situations?
- Were you suspicious of General Brunet? Do you think Toussaint is too trusting of him? What does this tell us about deceit in war?
Chew on This
Shorty gets hurt when his mom lies to him, even though she doesn't mean him harm. Any lie is betrayal in his book.
Lies are just a necessary part of growing up in a gang or in a war.