Edgar Lee Master's Richard Bone: Deceitful Writings
Name
Professor
Honors American Literature
4 November, 2012
Richard Bone: Deceitful Writings Edgar Lee Master’s “Richard Bone” was beautifully written. The first half of the poem was mostly descriptive while the second half was insightful. Every line reinforced and added to the depth of the poem. The last stanza was more or less perfect. It was written in such a way that it leaves the readers with many rich thoughts. The theme of the poem was “what is written is not always true.” Richard Bone chiseled whatever people told him to. He worked “in ignorance of its truth”: he never questioned it. As students, we are made to comply with whatever people tell us. We learn about how George Washington was such a brave and remarkable individual. …show more content…
We are made to question. However, many times, we forget to question. In many circumstances, we simply conform to what people tell us. How often do people rally against historical books? How often do people rally against scientific theories? We simply accept it and move on. Through the same concept, epitaphs can be deceitful as well. On everyone’s tombstone, something positive is written. Surely not every man on the planet was a good person. Yet people have always insisted on writing something “nice.” Why? Upon the death of one, their loved ones want the deceased to be remembered in a positive light. These loved ones want whoever sees the tombstone to feel reverence for the loss of their loved one even though this reverence would be achieved from partial, if not complete, dishonesty. Death also changes the perception of the deceased. During the healthy days of a man, society strives to find any shortcomings of his, weighing the faults against the accomplishments, while focusing more on the negatives. When that individual passes away, however, people socially don’t want to be negative, so they come up with positive things to say, talking only about the accomplishments, steering away from their earlier views. Why do people have to suffer through harsh social criticism in order to be part of society? Why should the death of someone bring positivity? Why can’t people weigh the faults and accomplishments as equals and truly judge whether a person is
Professor
Honors American Literature
4 November, 2012
Richard Bone: Deceitful Writings Edgar Lee Master’s “Richard Bone” was beautifully written. The first half of the poem was mostly descriptive while the second half was insightful. Every line reinforced and added to the depth of the poem. The last stanza was more or less perfect. It was written in such a way that it leaves the readers with many rich thoughts. The theme of the poem was “what is written is not always true.” Richard Bone chiseled whatever people told him to. He worked “in ignorance of its truth”: he never questioned it. As students, we are made to comply with whatever people tell us. We learn about how George Washington was such a brave and remarkable individual. …show more content…
We are made to question. However, many times, we forget to question. In many circumstances, we simply conform to what people tell us. How often do people rally against historical books? How often do people rally against scientific theories? We simply accept it and move on. Through the same concept, epitaphs can be deceitful as well. On everyone’s tombstone, something positive is written. Surely not every man on the planet was a good person. Yet people have always insisted on writing something “nice.” Why? Upon the death of one, their loved ones want the deceased to be remembered in a positive light. These loved ones want whoever sees the tombstone to feel reverence for the loss of their loved one even though this reverence would be achieved from partial, if not complete, dishonesty. Death also changes the perception of the deceased. During the healthy days of a man, society strives to find any shortcomings of his, weighing the faults against the accomplishments, while focusing more on the negatives. When that individual passes away, however, people socially don’t want to be negative, so they come up with positive things to say, talking only about the accomplishments, steering away from their earlier views. Why do people have to suffer through harsh social criticism in order to be part of society? Why should the death of someone bring positivity? Why can’t people weigh the faults and accomplishments as equals and truly judge whether a person is