MAAN Post 1

Though all of us have been told that lying is morally reprehensible, we are all guilty of it at some point or another. Though often we are wrong in our actions, there are some times when it may be ok to tell a lie. Sometimes the truth can be much more damaging than the consequences of a lie. When a lie is told only in order to help someone else, it can be ok. However, if the lie is told to benefit oneself or to harm oneself it is still considered unacceptable.

Dishonesty, while in itself is not admirable; it can be when done to help a friend or neighbor. Often lying can be good when the truth is unnecessary and would just hurt someone. For example, for Christmas this year I bought my little sister a hermit crab. The order actually came with two, but one was already dead when it came (yikes!). On Christmas morning my little sister asked if it only came with one crab. I said yes even though that wasn't the truth. Nothing good would have come from lying to her, and it only would have made her upset. When the truth only hurts someone, it is alright to omit it. Also, when it is possible to help a friend a lie might be ok. For example, the Prince helps Claudio when he pretends to be Claudio to get Hero to fall in love with him. He makes this clear when he states,” And tell fair Hero I am Claudio, and in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart" (II, 1, 260-261). Though the Prince did lie to Hero, it was only to help them both with their relationship. Only when it is to benefit someone else is lying ever acceptable.

Though there are exceptions, in almost all circumstances lying is morally reprehensible. Anytime that someone changes the truth to hurt someone else or for their own personal gain it is unacceptable. This has occurred in Much Ado about Nothing many times. Don John, who loathes Claudio lies to him by saying, "Sure my brother is amorous on Hero and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it. The ladies follow her and but one visor remains (II, 1, 127-130). Don John lies to Claudio saying that the Prince is trying to take Hero for himself. He does this only to make Claudio upset. This sort of lying is unacceptable because it causes nothing but harm. This is often the case when gossip is started about someone. The rumor is only created to hurt someone and therefore is morally wrong. When a lie is told to harm another, it is ethically wrong.