Deception, Love and Death

Three random ideas caught my attention yesterday.

On ‘The Antiques Roadshow’ yesterday evening an expert talked about a ‘trompe l’oeil’. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I had to ask Mr Google. Apparently, it translates from French as ‘deceive the eye’. It’s a technique used in painting and other visual arts to create realistic imagery that tricks the viewer – like an optical illusion.

Musing… Sometimes deception is fun, entertaining – the skilful conjurer, the murder mystery tale, the surprise birthday party; sometimes deception’s destructive –the politician’s lies, affluence declared but an empty bank balance, the broken marriage promises.  

I came across a Shakespeare quote… ‘As You Like It’ is a tale of love and romance; there’s also disguise and deception. Plenty of ‘trompe l’oeil’. In the final scenes, all the deceptions and misunderstandings are being resolved; there will be several marriages – Rosalind marrying Orlando, Silvius marrying Phebe…

Rosalind advises Phebe: ‘You are there followed by a faithful shepherd; Look upon him, love him; he worships you.’ Phebe responds: ‘Good shepherd, tell this youth what ’tis to love.’

Musing… In love’s lies, complexity and deception, St Paul’s says: ‘Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.’

I’ve been reading ‘The Great Gatsby’. The story, narrated by Nick Carraway, centres around Jay Gatsby. There’s love and deception… However rather than the happy ending of Shakespeare’s comedy, this love story’s ends in tragedy… a fatal car accident, Gatsby’s murdered, a suicide…

Gatsby’s father, Henry Gatz, has arrived for his son’s funeral: ‘I took him into the drawing room where his son lay… After a little while Mr Gatz opened the door and came out… He had reached an age where death no longer has the quality of ghastly surprise…’

Musing… In death’s lies, complexity and deception St Paul’s says: ‘I am convinced that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’