The Power of Truth Essay Example for Free

The Power of Truth EssayNovelist Tim OBrian once verbalize A lie, sometimes, stinkpot be consecutiver than the truth, which is why fiction gets written. In his novel The Things They Carried, OBrian argues that story-truth is sometimes certainr than happening-truth (171). OBrian opposes the idea of absolute truth, and believes that all truths argon subject to change. He believes that a fictional story can be more true than an actual takings. However, a story, no matter what story, cannot be more true than an actual event a story version of an event is merely a shadow of that eventa make-up-caked, dramatized, Hollywood shadow. It is impossible for story-truth to be truer than happening-truth. In The Things They Carried OBrian creates a young wo serviceman, Kathleen, for the fictional version of himself. OBrian, however, does not have a daughter in real life. While it may be a story-truth that Tim OBrian had a daughter, it bequeath never be a happening-truth. A made-up dau ghter will never be more real than OBrians actual son. In the novel, OBrian returns with his daughter to Vietnam where he buries a belonging of a fellow soldier (173).This story can never be more true than an actual event solely because of the involvement of a fictional character. A man can tell a story about his last trip to the grocery store, and most concourse would count it as true. However, if the man told a story about going to the grocery store with a magic genie, it would be assumed that he is lying, even if every other facet of his story was believable. This is no different than OBrian weaving a fictional character in to his novel. The story-truth of Kathleen can never be more true than happening-truth. Furthermore, in a abhorrence investigation, it is illegal to interfere with evidence involved with a case. Any disruption or corruption of evidence is termed falsifying evidence. This is a serious offence because it could bad disturb the process of solving a crime. Devoi d of sound evidence, it is difficult to determine how a crime was committed. Evidence is an example of happening-truth it conveys without any bias, exactly what happened at the scene of a crime, or at the events lede up to a crime.Investigators cannot solve a crime based solely off of story-truth, such as the testimonies of witnesses, because of the numerous individual accounts of a crime which are subject to dishonesty, human error, and prejudice. Therefore, investigators rely on happening-truth because it is trustworthy, whereas story-truth is inconsistent. Moreover, the frequent subscribe to The large is bursting with examples of happening-truth and story-truth. Director, James Cameron, designed many of these story-truths to impart an increased striking tone in the film.He created a grand staircase on the ship while in reality this staircase was so small passengers had to go up and down single file. A Pablo Picasso painting is featured in the film, although Picasso was no t popular during the time of the Titanic, and his work was not widely distributed. The diamond necklace in the film, titled The amount of the Ocean, never existed, much like the love story between invented passengers Rose Bukater and James Dawson. These creations served Camerons purpose to paint a theatrical telling of the event, but the movie was just thattheatrical.Although these story-truths indicate the sinking of the Titanic was a romantic event, it is the happening-truths that send chills through the viewers astonished bodies. The most powerful aspect of the film The Titanic is not the love story. It is not the grand staircase, or the luxurious dining room. It is not the fundamental interaction between characters, or the extravagant Heart of the Ocean. The most powerful aspect of The Titanic is that it actually happened. At the end of the film, there were 1,502 dead bodies sinking and in the freezing salt water of the Atlantic.No story-truth, no matter how elaborate, could create a greater tragedy than a happening-truth. Why not? Since story-truths are not as true as happening-truths. Therefore, the notion that a story could ring truer than an actual event is in the wrong. A lie cannot reveal a deeper truth only truth can uncover truth. Stories provide an escape for the imagination. They allow the reader to imagine a different reality and to glimpse into an alternate world. However, stories are only stories. They are not real. The only way the reader can understand a true reality is to read a true account of that reality.Although this account may be less dramatic than the story version of the reality, it is in fact the reality. It is the truest truth the happening-truth. Works Cited OBrien, Tim. The Things They Carried A Work of Fiction. Boston Houghton Mifflin, 1990. Print. Tim OBrien Quotes. Tim OBrien Quotes (Author of The Things They Carried). N. p. , n. d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. . Titanic Facts vs. Titanic Fiction. HubPages. N. p. , n. d. Web. 1 8 Feb. 2013. . The Titanic Gazette R. M. S. big vs. Titanic Movie. The Titanic Gazette R. M. S. TITANIC vs. Titanic Movie. N. p. , n. d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.