research

Saeed

Azzam Saeed

Cortney Robbins

ENG 1270

12 April 2016

Deceptiveness Of Appearance

In the contemporary world, the advancements and development of information technology has led to close interconnectedness of the world into global villages. The close interconnection of the people, in particularly via the social media, has fueled the need for resembling as well as taking other people's ways of life to be ones. Therefore, the erosion of the original way of doing things has changed. A good example is the influence of the western culture is so intense that even non western people continue adopting it to be like their culture. The same applies when it comes to individuals. Some people like being like others and not themselves. These individuals imitate others at the expense of living their lives in their ways and within their means. They deceive in their appearance just to please themselves and others even if it is only for a short period of time while characterizing themselves to be of a given elegent social class. As a matter of fact, deceptiveness of appearance is still common in the modern society, and it is a sin that a lot of folks have done away with for a better improved way of living (Leavitt and Sluss 607-610). As outlined in the story ‘The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, persons need to heighten their social class, fit with the changing world, or hide their identity creates deceptiveness of appearance that leads to financial issues and unreliability.

It is unfortunate a that majority of the people are not contente with their lives such that some feel the need to imitate others in regards to how they dress and behave. It all start from childhood, thus being passed by the parents that one belongs to a certain social class and thus ought to behave in a certain manner that is acceptable for everyone. In case one deviates from the societal expectations, he/she is regarded as not being in right perspectives. These actions lead to the creation of lack of self-belief and thus self-inferiority if one is led to believe that he / she cannot afford certain stuff like others who considered being of ‘high social class' (Leavitt and Sluss 607-610).

The different levels of the issue that called social class emerge from the self-imposed thinking that ultimately develops an attitude in line with the patterns of thoughts. For instance, if one might think of being poor, the responses are that of poverty both in view and ultimately action. Such individuals from there onwards keeps on only blaming the circumstances and other people for the conditions that he attracts. Thus, to cover up their self inferiority just to look in their ideal life, many people are deceptive about their appearances. It is important to note that deception of appearance is a short term solution for a long term problem. It is necessary that people decide to deal with the pertinent issues that affect them in an open-minded and prudent manner that likely to result in an improvement of their life up to their desired level. Life comes from inward and not from outward appearance and thus it is critical that people deal with issues that are within such as choosing to adopt positive thinking and attitude over the negative thinking and ultimately negative attitude. If we firmly believe in ourselves and our capabilities without fear and doubt we can attain a lot, rather than just purporting that all is well while in the real sense we know that we are living a denial life (Slater and Hiroshi pg. 9-11).

One thing that is constant is change. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the concept of the deceptiveness of appearance has remained consistent over the time because people are different, and their differences are diverse. In any given society you will ever find people from different social classes. These differences are further tolerated by the laid down stereotypes that result to prejudice and discrimination. Since old days, people have been categorized mostly regarding their economic status. In the world of today, the rule of capitalism has worsened the situation hence leading to increased cases of deception of appearances just to gain respect and better services from others(Slater and Hiroshi 9-11).

The aspect of deception of appearance comes with a cost in the long-term as demonstrated in the story ‘The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. Mathilde had to spend many years working for the debt of necklace that she wore one night to appear of higher economic status in her mind while in the real sense the borrowed necklace had not cost such much as she thought. She happens to live in an illusory world that mismatches her real and ideal life. She had such thoughts that beauty, charm, and expensive appearance makes her worthy greater and not her inner self. Because of these patterns of thoughts, she could not afford to pay a visit to her friend who is of higher social class for the reason that her heart will break. All these statements demonstrate the states of negative thoughts, perceptions, and negative attitude. Truly, the reality even today for the people that have these attributes is that of the deceptiveness of appearance that only gives them immediate satisfaction in that they are perceived to be well, but in the real sense, it results in pain, disappointments, mistrusts, and unreliability (Simon Aaron, Press).

The fiction in the story as presented by Maupassant conveys reality in a very accurate manner. The story strives for objectivity and not psychological exploration or rather imageries of idealists, thereby structuring the story around well-defined plot lines as well as specific apparent fine points. Instead of the “The Necklace” validating the aspect of Mathilde’s craving for wealth and unhappiness with her life, the author just gives us a story concerning the grief and all things that Mathilde desires. In the end, there is no explanation concerning Mathilde’s reaction after Madams Forestier’s appalling disclosure (Maupassant 345-51)

It is apparent that deceptiveness of appearance is common in the modern society. It is imperative that people get concerned with the inward appearance including positive thinking and attitude over the outward appearances that in the end results to only pain and disappointments. The deceptiveness of appearance denies us our true self, thus hindering creativity and innovation at the expense of mediocrity. It nothing is done about all this, then we are bound to live in a society that is full of mistrusts, misunderstandings, as well as lacking integrity. The ultimate results in the presence of deceptiveness of appearance in the society are likely to be the existence of capitalism without a human face.

Works Cited

Maupassant, Guy de. “The Necklace” Literature and Its Writers. 5th edition. Ann Charters and Samuel Charters. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010 345-51. Print.

Leavitt, Keith, and David M. Sluss. "Lying For Who We Are: An Identity-Based Model Of Workplace Dishonesty." Academy Of Management Review 40.4 (2015): 607-610.

Slater, David H., and Hiroshi Ishida. Social Class In Contemporary Japan : Structures, Sorting And Strategies. London: Routledge, 2009. : 9-11

Simon-Aaron, Charles. Three African Social Theorists On Class Struggle, Political Liberation, And Indigenous Culture : Cheikh Anta Diop, Amilcar Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press, 2014.

Waymer, Damion. Culture, Social Class, And Race In Public Relations : Perspectives And Applications. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2012.