Jack is, to put it mildly, a fibber. So are a lot of other characters, but Jack really raises it to an art form. The question isn't that Jack lies; it's why he lies (besides the obvious answers, like impressing girls and getting out of trouble). This Boy's Life is all about the search for identity and belonging: the way insecure square peg Jack can find his square hole without getting hammered into the wrong one by guys like Dwight. His lies aren't so much deception as a way to reinvent himself: to find some identity that he likes and stick with it. As you may suspect, unless you're Madonna, it's not the greatest way to go about finding yourself.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- How often does Jack believe his own lies? What does he hope to accomplish by that kind of wishful thinking?
- What happens to Jack when he's caught in his lies? Why isn't he able to accept the consequences of them?
- How do Dwight's lies compare with Jack's? How do Dwight's reasons for lying differ from Jack?
- Does telling the truth ever make Jack happy? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Jack's lies help him find out who he really is.
Jack's lies are a distraction and only keep him from discovering his true identity.