Perhaps the most obvious literary device used in Mark Twain’s essay is satire. Satire is a literary device that is used to criticize a social institution or convention with the hope of reforming it for the better. The entire essay is satirical; how can lying be an art form? Traditionally, lying has been considered to be evil and deceitful. In literature, liars are characterized as low and unworthy people and have been closely associated with animals such as snakes. The snake is made infamous in the Bible when it deceives Adam and Eve. In Greek mythology, snakes are often coupled with malicious antagonists, like the 9-headed Hydra and Medusa. In Shakespearian plays, especially in The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice, the main villain, Iago, is a sinister, conniving, and deceitful character who betrays Othello’s trust by maintaining his reputation of honesty. The Aesop fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, also displays lying as something that is not positive. Even within slang and the legal jurisdiction, the word “snake” is considered a negative title.
It is true that everyone does lie. Yet, lying obviously has a negative connotation, so why should one even bother denying that? Would you introduce a pathological liar who happens to be a friend of yours as “Hey, this is my friend Dean the Liar”? No, you would not because lying is looked down upon and people who are liars are ostracized. Of course there are occasions where lying is permitted or even encouraged but in it’s entirety, in it’s stereotype, and in it’s honest reputation, lying is not virtuous or glorious, charitable or “healingly.”
A specific example of satire is used when Twain writes, “Lying is universal—we all do it. Therefore, the wise thing is for us diligently to train ourselves to lie thoughtfully… to lie with a good object… to lie healingly” (5). Instead of perfecting the “art” of lying, people should perfect the art of truth telling. Throughout the scope of the world’s existence, every motto I can think of has been related to “truth” and truth is almost-kin to justice: Harvard University’s motto is simply “Veritas,” which is Latin for “Truth;” while Yale University’s motto is “Lux et veritas,” which is Latin for “Light and truth;” the Czech Republic’s motto is “Pravda vítězí,” which is Czech for “Truth prevails.” Truth is a concept that every person wishes one another had. We also expect our social and governmental institutions to possess it. Truth has always been considered a positive attribute. Twain is utilizing satire to target human vices and follies, to target social institutions and conventions. He is attempting to reform the audience through ridicule; he is attempting to reform the human tendency of lying by using satire.
Twain also uses metaphors: “The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of graceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying” (3). By using this figure of speech, Twain is implying a comparison between polite, or courteous, lying and an edifice, or a building structure. He is suggesting they are similar by describing how beautiful they both are, as well as how elegant and gilded their forms are. Domes are considered to have a great deal of structural strength and by using this word to connect buildings and courteous lies, Twain is hinting at the strength and power these lies have in influencing its victims. In addition, buildings, especially palaces and other upscale structures, are extremely magnificent. He again suggests that this characteristic transcends to polite lying and labels it a very “loving art” (3).
Wit is also very much apparent in this short essay. Wit is intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. The one word that came to mind while I was reading “On the Decay of the Art of Lying” was witty. The essay, as a whole, is very clever, humorous, and definitely sarcastic. An example of this wit is: “I think that all this courteous lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated” (3). Twain writes with beautiful language that carries eloquence off every roll of the tongue but instead of a poetic spin, it results in something sarcastic and humorous.
Another literary device seen within Twain’s essay is verbal irony. Irony, itself, is the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. Verbal irony follows this model; it occurs when words literally state the opposite of the speaker’s true meaning. A specific example of verbal irony is used when Twain writes, “Then shall we be rid of the rank and pestilent truth that is rotting the land…” (5). How can truth be pestilent? It is clear to the audience that truth, not lies, should be spread pervasively. Twain goes onto say that once lying is perfected, that the world shall be “great and good and beautiful” (5). This is ironic in the sense that lying is associated with everything negative, yet he is portraying the person who does it correctly as everything positive.
Within the same paragraph, Twain also incorporates the literary device of sarcasm. Sarcasm is characterized by bitter and caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. However, in this sense, sarcasm is used almost humorously. For example, a humorously sarcastic remark directed at a friend who constantly has bad breath may sound something like, “Damn! Your breath is fresh!” and is accompanied by a stick of gum or small giggles. The intent is not necessarily malicious but more comical. This device can be seen when Twain writes that once perfecting the art of lying, humankind will be “worthy dwellers in a world where even benign Nature habitually lies, except when she promises execrable weather. Then—But am I but a new and feeble student in this gracious art” (5).
Twain also uses the literary device of narrative. A narrative is the telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. The narrative in this essay is in the form of an anecdote. Twain tells the audience about a particular conversation he had with a “lovely spirit, a lady whose impulses were always high and pure” while at dinner “in that far country where [he] once lived” (3). At dinner, Twain makes a bold statement and calls everyone present a liar:
She was amazed, and said, “Not all?” It was before ‘Pinafore’s’ time. so I did not make the response which would naturally follow in our day, but frankly said, “Yes, all—we are all liars. There are no exceptions.” She looked almost offended, “Why, do you include me?” “Certainly,” I said. “I think you even rank as an expert.” She said “Sh-‘sh! the children!” So the subject was changed in deference to the children’s presence, and we went on talking about other things. (3-4)
Twain goes further by giving an even more specific example of a narrative. He continues his anecdote by revealing to the reader that the lovely lady he called out lied on a hospital survey. This anecdotal story is a prime example of the narrative device. The narrative attempts to prove a point by using what occurred as some form of evidence. The point Twain tries to prove is that “Lying is universal [and] we all do it.” The satirical point is that no on considers himself or herself or the act of lying wrong when they practice it, but they ridicule and patronize other liars. Twain implicates the notion of double standards: “Our lying is justified and acceptable, theirs is not.”
Twain writes another masterpiece on something that appears to be so insignificant, common, and boring. Yet, it is still being taught in classrooms across America almost 100 years after his death. What about this essay gives it such longevity? What makes it such an outstanding piece of literature? Twain uses literary devices like it is second nature. It appears that the words naturally flowed from the tip of his not-so-ballpoint pen to the paper on his desk without any strain or muscle convulsion. Added in such a delicate manner, these devices allowed for a unique and genuine essay. Mark Twain’s “On the Decay of the Art of Lying” uses satire, metaphors, wit, verbal irony, sarcasm, and narrative so perfectly that it results in a creative and original opus of an essay—anything different would not be Twain.