Usually when we think of lying, we think of words that are untruthful. Of course, there's some of that in The Witches, but the witches themselves are constantly deceiving through another means: disguise. The only way witches are able to pass for humans and trick children is because they are constantly in disguise – wigs, gloves, and sometimes masks – to make them look like normal ladies. They're pretty much telling everyone around them that they're someone they're not. If that's not a lie, what is?
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- Think of all the instances when Grandmamma lies. Does she have good reason for lying?
- Which part of the witches' disguise would you say is the biggest deception?
- Do the witches lie using words, too? If so, when?
- When the cooks spit in the old woman's food, is that a form of deception? Or is it just plain gross?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Come on, everyone lies. The witches might be evil in other ways, but we can't blame them for their deception.
Storytelling itself is a form of deception.