The Theme Of Hypocrisy In Chopin's Lilacs Essay Example

Hypocrisy is defined as a practice whereby an individual claims to have moral beliefs and standards; however, the behavior of the said individual does not conform to the suggested morals and standards. Some may term it as pretense while others may term it as dishonesty and empty talk. Hypocrisy through all these definitions is a major theme presented by Chopin`s in Lilacs. An individual may speak of certain morals and standards to present a good image about themselves, but in actual sense they do not practice what they speak.
The thought and idea of returning home should be exciting for any individual and this is the case for Adrienne. Adrienne figures that returning to the convent where she grew up would be the best experience in reconnecting with her past. At the convent, it is expected that the people she meets there will be welcoming and warm to her. However, upon Adrienne`s arrival it is clear that this would not be the best stay at the convent for her. Hypocrisy appears through Mother Superior who any reader would expect to show a warm heart and welcome Adrienne. It would be expected that being the head of a sisterhood that teaches love and other women to become like Mary would show warmth to one of them who has returned. However, clearly, although Mother Superior seems and claims to stand for love among the sisters at the convent, she does not practice the same love and warmth towards Adrienne during her stay.
On one side, Sister Agathe also appears as a hypocrite being that she closely interacts with Adrienne and maintains a close relationship with her even after her dismissal from the convent. One would expect that an individual who is in a convent will stand for righteousness and will try to break association with secular friends who may mislead them from the main course of their celibacy. In fact, the friendship between Sister Agathe and Adrienne seems peculiar due to the lack of any common factors that should tie the two together. The relationship between Agathe and Adrienne appears deep and ambiguous from the moment that they kissed each other during Adrienne’s arrival in the convent. The emotional tension beyond the two characters goes beyond friendship as expressed and seen in their close tie. In this regard, one may perceive it as a lesbian relationship, which adds on into the theme of hypocrisy. The religion and course that Sister Agathe seems to represent is banished by the relationship between the two. On one side, religion stands firm against lesbianism and such nature of relationships between two women. However, Sister Agathe seems to not get over Adrienne. The behavior between the two characters seems to present a new perspective of love.
The hypocrisy appears through the form of love that each expresses to the other. In this perspective, Adrienne being a musician is expected to show love through courting her fans and the lovers of her music. Similarly, Sister Agathe, being a nun who has attended Coventry all her life is expected to show Godly love. However, it is clear that the two do not display these kinds of love. The nature of their relationships displays the clear weakness in the rules that bind man and control their worlds.
The other nuns at the convent are also hypocrites. Clearly, the gifts brought by Adrienne entice them towards desiring and liking the kind of life that the singer lives. In this perspective, they move away from the expectations. One expects that a nun has chosen to dedicate her time and life and forfeit such desires for gifts from unrighteous people. One also expects that being in a convent; the nuns have enough of what they need. However, they express a desire for more gifts from Adrienne and this prompts Mother Superior to plan to regard the next visit. The action taken by the Mother Superior also displays some level of hypocrisy. In this perspective, she moves to ban Adrienne from attending the concert the following year at the convent. The move seemingly protects the nuns from the threat, which is Adrienne. Hypocrisy in this case is depicted by the fact that Mother Superior does not perceive “her girls” the nuns as strong enough to overcome the temptation brought by Adrienne. One expects that Mother Superior would have enough confidence that the nuns have been taught well and are not going to change their stand in spiritual life. The doubts by Mother Superior also depict doubts on the Convent system, which should instill spiritual training on the nuns. Therefore, Mother Superior in this perspective doubts the very system that she appears to uphold and work for. It also depicts that the nuns are in a position to stand in their faith because they lack distractions or items that pull them to the other side. Therefore, their stand as nuns could be shaken given the distractions and temptations that Adrienne brings.