The Memory Keeper's Daughter Deception Analysis

The art of deception has long been mastered by poets, playwrights, and authors alike, used in a myriad of the most prolific literature works throughout modern history. Stories such as The Scarlet Letter, The Kite Runner, and The Crucible all have major plot lines based firmly around the development and augmentation of deception and duplicity. Amongst these works of literature lies one of the most prominent and outstanding examples of deception composed by Kim Edwards, a current American author and educator. Based in 1970s small-town America, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter exemplifies profound deception usage as one of the novel’s most extrusive driving points, making it one of the 21st century’s proudest compositions. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is compounded around the element of deception which is first displayed when we meet both Dr. David and Norah Henry, the parents of twins. The mother gives birth to a healthy baby boy, followed by what she presumes to be a healthy

David has moved out, leaving his photographs of his daughter in a box in his old house. David dies shortly after absconding from Norah, leaving her alone. Norah decides she’s ready to move out and leave behind her scarred past, which results in her discovery of the photographs. She becomes intrigued by what she’s found and orchestrates a visit from her daughter and the nurse. The repeated use of deception comes to an end at this point, as every lie David had to tell to keep his wife safe had been uncovered and debunked. Although David is no longer living at this point in the novel, the effects of his mendacity can still be felt amongst every character. This is a common trend throughout deception based novels; to impose their wrongdoings upon every character in the book, causing their actions to dictate every turn the novel may make. Deception has been and will continue to be a driving force for all types of