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Truth, Love, and Social Change in Literature and Media

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Truth, Love, and Social Change in Literature and Media
The gift of free will is something that the characters in literature consider when we reflect on the choices the character made to conceal or reveal the truth. Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare is about two star crossed lovers who considered necessary to keep their love secret because of their social circumstances. Marella, in The Secret Under My Skin made the choice to expose the fraud that has been brainwashed into the community by The Commission in hope of a better world. Percy Jackson, by revealing that Luke, son of Hades placed Zeus' lightning bolt in his shield he hopes for a better life, one of peace and one that will lack bloodshed. Juliet, Marella and Percy teach us that those who disclose the truth, are able to bring about peace and positive change in their community. However, those who choose to lie and conceal the truth, ultimately destroy their happiness, love and their communities. Juliet, by concealing the truth from her parents, she destroys her community and her life and love results in death. Juliet, when approached by Capulet and Lady Capulet to inform her of her marriage to the County Paris, she is erratic in her response of refusal because she has concealed the truth regarding her secret marriage to Romeo:
Now by Saint Peter's church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride! I will not marry yet and when I do, I swear,
It shall be Romeo, whom [I] know you hate. (Rom.3.5.116-123)
When she conceals the truth from her parents, we learn that relationships are affected and result in destruction when people conceal the truth. Juliet's also has shown; by being deceitful, lying and losing her life, nothing positive is the result of lies:
Your night is not daylight, I know it, I.
It is some meteor that the sun exhales
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua.
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone (Rom.3.5.12-16)
This quote foreshadows the negativity that is to
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