“War”, by Luigi Pirandello and Denial

War “Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others...” (Dostoevsky). It is said that one of the worst things a person can do to themselves is to live in a state of denial. The act of denial is normal, as it is a person 's nature response to pain and despair. But by constantly lying to yourself, as expressed by Dostoevsky, a person can loose touch with reality and leave them more vulnerable to emotional turmoil. This is perfectly demonstrated in the short story “War”, by Luigi Pirandello. In “War”, the character called the fat traveler or old man gives testament to the effects of denial. Upon analysis, it is revealed that he is a dynamic character; through Pirandello 's usage of characterization and his eventual transformation. Pirandello 's characterization of the fat traveler follows a linear process: a marked emergence, explanation of his beliefs, the other characters ' reaction to him, and his transformation. The manner which he is introduced sets the mood and tone for him, as he enters though loudly interrupting a conversation with “Nonsense”. He is described as “a fat, red-faced man with bloodshot eyes of the palest gray. He was panting... trying to cover his mouth with his hand so as to hide the two missing front teeth”. At this point, he carries a negative tone, with the mood thick in disrespect. Every detail about him carries a negative connotation, from being fat to toothless. This is not by accident, as he is displayed as a decrepit individual no person wants to become. This primes the reader to be skeptical of him, and what he stands for (War 108). This is directly followed by an explanation of his beliefs. It would seem that the fat traveler is zealous in his beliefs, as it is written that “From his bulging eyes seemed to spurt inner violence of an uncontrolled

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