Hypocrisy and Moral Facade

Where it surfaces

• Dogged

  Gibbon's respectable exterior crumbles as he succumbs to the dog's depravity, revealing the hypocrisy of his earlier blameless life.

• The Blood-Feud of Toad-Water

  At the Revival Tea, the women feign piety and neighborliness while inwardly nursing old grudges, exposing the hypocrisy beneath religious and social conventions.

• New Wine in Old Bottles

  Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hooper criticize others for ignorance while themselves displaying shallow and inaccurate knowledge, revealing a facade of cultural superiority.

• Reginald

  Reginald's behavior exposes the shallow propriety of the garden-party, as he openly mocks social conventions and the temperance movement.

• Reginald on Christmas Presents

  Reginald criticizes the superficiality and lack of genuine thought in gift-giving, exposing the social pretense behind Christmas presents.

• The Saint and the Goblin

  The saint's initial philanthropic impulse is undermined by his rationalization to prioritize candles over corn, revealing a self-serving concern for appearances rather than genuine charity.

• Reginald on the Academy

  The conversation critiques the pretentiousness of picture titles and the slow, self-congratulatory recognition of artists, exposing the facade of artistic merit.

• Reginald's Peace Poem

  Reginald's poem is more concerned with clever rhymes and local color than genuine sentiment about peace, exposing a hollow moral facade.

• Reginald's Choir Treat

  Amabel's moral reformation efforts are undermined by her own frailty and Reginald's subversion of the event.

• Reginald at the Theatre

  Reginald exposes the duchess's self-righteous moralizing as hollow, pointing out the contradictions in her views on philanthropy and empire.

• Reginald on House-Parties

  Reginald exposes the shallow judgments and double standards of hosts and guests, such as the hostess who forgives pavonicide for good looks.

• Reginald on Worries

  Reginald critiques his aunt's adoption of decorative sorrows and the social pretense of worrying about distant issues while ignoring genuine problems.

• Reginald at the Carlton

  The duchess's concern for the poor is undercut by her focus on dividends and social appearances; Reginald exposes the double standards of polite society.

• Reginald on Besetting Sins

  The woman's truth-telling is seen as a social transgression, highlighting the value placed on polite fictions over honesty.

• Reginald's Drama

  Reginald mocks the superficiality of social reform (e.g., slumming as a sport) and the pretensions of the Guild of the Poor Dear Souls.

• Reginald on Tariffs

  Reginald exposes the absurdity of social propriety, as when Mrs. Nicorax accuses him of indelicacy while her own actions lead to a compromising situation.

• Reginald's Christmas Revel

  The Babwolds' forced merriment and solemn disapproval of frivolity mask the emptiness of their social rituals.

• Reginald's Rubaiyat

  The duchess's contradictory objections to political allusions and bribery, while engaging in electioneering.

• The Innocence of Reginald

  Reginald's acquaintances publicly demand discretion and privacy, yet privately beg to have their own scandals included, revealing their hypocritical concern for reputation.

• Reginald in Russia

  The princess criticizes English frivolity while defending a friend's bad complexion and professing socialist opinions she doesn't truly hold.

• The Reticence of Lady Anne

  Egbert's promise to 'lead a better life' is hollow and self-serving, revealing the superficiality of his moral gestures.

• A Young Turkish Catastrophe

  The Vizier and Minister debate women's suffrage with condescension and absurdity, while the Young Turkish candidate uses underhanded tactics like motorcar accidents to suppress opposition, revealing a facade of progressive reform.

• The Soul of Laploshka

  The narrator's pretense of generosity and the moral dilemma over the two francs highlight the hypocrisy in social and charitable gestures.

• The Bag

  Mrs. Hoopington's concern for appearances and the Major's fury highlight the social hypocrisy surrounding hunting etiquette.

• The Mouse

  Theodoric's obsessive concern with appearances and propriety leads him to absurd lengths, while his panic is entirely unnecessary—the lady is blind.

• The Matchmaker

  Clovis's mother's sudden concern for living within their means and early hours is revealed as a pretext; Clovis manipulates her by encouraging remarriage to preserve his own freedom.

• Tobermory

  Tobermory's candid speech exposes the guests' secret judgments and double lives, shattering their polite pretenses.

• Hermann the Irascible

  Hermann presents himself as progressive but ultimately manipulates the system to maintain control, revealing the hypocrisy behind his reforms.

• Wratislav

  The Gräfin and Baroness Sophie trade cutting remarks about each other's families while maintaining a veneer of polite society, revealing the hypocrisy beneath their social interactions.

• The Unrest-Cure

  Clovis exploits the Bishop's reputation for tolerance and humanity to make the threat of massacre more shocking and believable.

• The Jesting of Arlington Stringham

  Eleanor's outward disapproval of Arlington's jokes masks her own insecurities and the underlying decay of their marriage, while Arlington's borrowed wit from Lady Isobel highlights the superficiality of social humor.

• The Penance

  Octavian's attempt to buy forgiveness with chocolates is rejected, and his public penance is a performative act to regain the children's approval.

• The Stampeding of Lady Bastable

  Lady Bastable's concern for social propriety is shattered by Clovis's prank, revealing the fragility of her dignified facade.

• Ministers of Grace

  The angelic substitutions expose the superficiality and moral emptiness of political figures, as the originals are replaced by beings who act with genuine kindness or absurdity, revealing the facade of public life.

• Filboid Studge

  The public's dutiful consumption of Filboid Studge despite its unpalatability highlights the hypocrisy of performing virtue without genuine conviction.

• Esmé

  The Baroness fabricates a story about the hyena's pedigree and conceals the child's death to avoid scandal and gain material benefit.

• The Chaplet

  The diners feign musical appreciation and rapture, while their true ignorance and lack of genuine engagement with the food or music reveal a shallow moral facade.

• Mrs. Packletide's Tiger

  Mrs. Packletide pretends to be a brave hunter while actually shooting a goat and relying on a tiger's heart failure; the villagers and her companion collude in the deception.

• The Easter Egg

  The couple's 'pretty idea' for the Easter celebration masks a deadly plot, highlighting the facade of innocence and tradition.

• A Matter of Sentiment

  Lady Susan publicly disapproves of racing yet secretly places a bet, and the guests pretend to admire pheasants while scheming about horse racing.

• The Peace Offering

  The Baroness's peacemaking effort is undermined by her own vanity and the County's refusal to forgive political slights, exposing the superficiality of social reconciliation.

• The Recessional

  Loona Bimberton's claim that coronation odes are the province of a gifted few, contrasted with Clovis's easy production of verse, exposes social hypocrisy.

• The Infernal Parliament

  The debate protests the misuse of 'fiendish' for human atrocities, highlighting human hypocrisy in blaming demons for their own cruelties.

• The Talking-Out of Tarrington

  Clovis's aunt pretends not to know Tarrington, and Clovis feigns ignorance to avoid social obligation.

• The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope

  Septimus Brope maintains a respectable public image as a church scholar while secretly writing popular sentimental songs.

• The Story of St. Vespaluus

  Vespaluus publicly adopts Christianity for political convenience while privately remaining pagan, and the court and populace readily accept the facade for state stability.

• The Way to the Dairy

  The Brimley Bomefields feign concern for their aunt's moral welfare while actually coveting her inheritance, and they are horrified by her gambling yet are themselves obsessed with 'good money.'

• The Disappearance of Crispina Umberleigh

  Edward Umberleigh maintains a public image as a strong political figure while secretly paying ransom to keep his wife away, prioritizing his career over marital duty.

• The Schartz-Metterklume Method

  Mrs. Quabarl's insistence on 'interesting' education contrasts with her conventional expectations, while Lady Carlotta's fabricated scandal about Canon Teep exposes the gap between public reputation and private behavior.

• Excepting Mrs. Pentherby

  Reggie's scheme uses Mrs. Pentherby as a scapegoat to create an illusion of harmony, while she deliberately stirs conflict behind a mask of innocence.

• The Seventh Pullet

  Blenkinthrope initially insists on sticking to fact but quickly adopts lies for social gain, revealing the hypocrisy of valuing reputation over truth.

• Mrs. Pendercoet's Lost Identity

  Mrs. Pendercoet's desire to appear dignified and original contrasts with the superficiality of social masquerades, and Rollo's prank exposes the fragility of her constructed identity.

• The Seven Cream Jugs

  The Pigeoncotes' frantic efforts to appear gracious while secretly suspecting and searching their guest's luggage reveal the hypocrisy beneath their social veneer.

• Bertie's Christmas Eve

  Luke Steffink's pride in his respectable household contrasts with the family's undignified imprisonment and Bertie's revelry.

• Quail Seed

  Mr. Scarrick's blatant lies about the boy's visits, despite having presided over a lecture on Savonarola, underscore the theme of hypocrisy and moral facade.

• The Treasure Ship

  The duchess and other wealthy individuals are revealed to have hidden scandals, and Vasco's blackmail exposes the moral hypocrisy beneath their respectable facades.

• The Blind Spot

  Sir Lulworth's willingness to destroy evidence and shield a murderer for the sake of good cooking exposes the hypocrisy of prioritizing personal comfort over justice.

• Dusk

  Gortsby's initial skepticism and later self-congratulation for helping the young man are undercut by the revelation that the young man's story was a lie, highlighting the deceptive appearances and moral pretenses.

• The Unkindest Blow

  The media and public feign moral outrage over the divorce while eagerly exploiting it for profit and entertainment, exposing the hypocrisy beneath the surface.

• The Sheep

  The Sheep's apologetic smile and self-satisfaction mask his incompetence and the harm he causes, while Rupert's hatred simmers beneath polite bitterness.

• The Threat

  The government's panic legislation against statuary is presented as a 'glorious measure,' satirizing how political expediency masquerades as principle.

• The Comments of Moung Ka

  Moung Ka highlights the hypocrisy of the British Government, which considers the wishes of the people of Bengal but ignores the wishes of the people of Britain regarding partition.

• The Phantom Luncheon

  Lady Drakmanton pretends to be a different person to avoid hosting the Smithly-Dubbs, exposing the insincerity behind social and political hospitality.

• The Yarkand Manner

  The office-boy maintains a facade of normalcy and authority, forging signatures and salaries while the true staff is held captive, exposing the hypocrisy behind institutional appearances.

• The She-Wolf

  Leonard Bilsiter's pretensions to supernatural power are exposed as hollow when Clovis's prank reveals his inability to actually perform magic, highlighting the gap between his claims and reality.

• The Boar-Pig

  Mrs. Stossen's indignation at Matilda's trickery contrasts with her own dishonest scheme to gatecrash the party.

• Shock Tactics

  Mrs. Heasant's invasive snooping under the guise of maternal concern is exposed as empty moralizing when she falls for a transparent hoax.

• The Lull

  Vera's elaborate deception to enforce a 'lull' from politics exposes the gap between polite social expectations and manipulative reality.

• The Romancers

  Crosby presents himself as a generous follower of Yom's customs while using a fabricated taboo to avoid giving charity.

• The Purple of the Balkan Kings

  The Great Powers' pretense of controlling Balkan affairs is exposed as hollow when the Balkan states assert their independence through military success.

• The Hen

  Clovis manipulates Jane's fears with a fabricated story about the butler, exposing the deceptive games played to maintain social harmony.

• A Touch of Realism

  Lady Blonze desires a talked-about party but ignores the underlying cruelty; guests pretend to be characters while their actions reveal selfishness and malice.

• The Quince Tree

  Mrs. Bebberly Cumble's moral outrage at the supposed crime quickly gives way to protecting family reputation when she learns her prospective son-in-law is involved.

• The Feast of Nemesis

  Clovis critiques the artificiality of Christmas goodwill and proposes a day for honest expression of dislike.

• The Byzantine Omelette

  Sophie's socialist convictions clash with her desire to impress the Duke of Syria, exposing her hypocrisy as she prioritizes social status over her principles.

• The Forbidden Buzzards

  Mrs. Olston's concern for the buzzards masks her social maneuvering; Lanner's civilized exterior hides his ruthless collecting.

• The Stake

  Mrs. Attray claims to be firm and farseeing in preventing Ronnie's gambling, yet her actions are undermined by her own social compromises and Ronnie's successful deception.

• Clovis on Parental Responsibilities

  Mrs. Eggelby's exaggerated praise of her children contrasts with Clovis's cynical exposure of the flaws in her parenting philosophy.

• The Brogue

  The Mullet family praises the horse to sell it, then schemes to get it back when it threatens their matrimonial plans, revealing their duplicity.

• The Almanac

  Vera and Clovis discuss making predictions that are deliberately vague and safe, exploiting people's credulity for profit, while maintaining a facade of prophetic insight.

• A Housing Problem

  Both Mrs. Duff-Chubleigh and Mrs. Pallitson pretend to be gracious hosts while scheming to offload the troublesome Bobbie onto each other.

• The Oversight

  The characters' concern for peace and propriety masks the underlying pettiness and volatility of their social interactions; the 'peaceable party' descends into violence over a minor political stance, exposing the fragility of the civilized facade.

• The Hedgehog

  The Norburys pretend to accommodate their guest's interests while secretly manipulating her to avoid offending their landlord.

• The Storyteller

  The aunt's conventional moral tale is exposed as hollow and ineffective, while the bachelor's 'improper' story ironically teaches a more complex lesson about the dangers of excessive virtue.

• A Holiday Task

  The woman's feigned amnesia and manipulation of Jerton highlight the deceptive social games played by the upper class.

• Fur

  Eleanor and Suzanne feign friendship while secretly competing for Bertram's generosity, revealing the hypocrisy beneath their social bond.

• The Lumber Room

  The aunt's moralizing about the frog incident and her claim of no strawberry jam are exposed as hypocritical when Nicholas reveals the truth and traps her in her own lie.

• A Sacrifice to Necessity

  Mrs. Pevenly condemns gambling yet is willing to sacrifice herself in marriage to cover the debt, revealing the hypocrisy behind her moral outrage.

• The Elk

  Mrs. Yonelet's dramatic announcement of the elk rescue is undercut by Mrs. Thropplestance's revelation that such rescues are routine, exposing the facade of romantic destiny.

• A Defensive Diamond

  Treddleford's lies are a defensive facade to maintain social distance, highlighting the hypocrisy of polite club interactions.

• Canossa

  The government's willingness to release a guilty prisoner to avoid electoral loss exposes the hypocrisy of political morality.

• The Name-Day

  The peasant woman uses her name-day as a moral shield to justify price gouging and claim divine protection, while her 'wolves' turn out to be her cousin's dogs.

• A Shot in the Dark

  The impostor presents a false identity and story to gain money, while Sletherby himself is performing a role to win political favor, revealing the duplicity beneath polite society.

• Mark

  Mellowkent adopts a strong, silent pen name 'Mark' to appeal to readers, yet he is easily intimidated by the salesman until he turns the tables.

• Down Pens

  The characters acknowledge the insincerity of thank-you letters, yet feel compelled to maintain the social pretense of gratitude.

• The Philanthropist and the Happy Cat

  Jocantha's philanthropic impulse is superficial, driven by self-satisfaction rather than genuine altruism, and she abandons it when her attention is captured by a handsome young man.

• On Approval

  The patrons feign belief in Knopfschrank's genius after his apparent success, buying his sketches only when they think he is famous, revealing their insincerity.

• Hyacinth

  Adults praise Hyacinth's butterscotch gesture as charming while ignoring his underlying malice, and the candidate manipulates the vote count to avoid winning.

• Fate

  Rex presents himself as a hero while actually committing a dangerous act to cover his financial failure.

• The Romance of Business

  Margaret's polite facade masks her deliberate cruelty and deception toward Sophie, whom she claims to like but enjoys tormenting.

• The Toys of Peace

  The peace toys are presented as morally superior, yet the boys' play reveals the underlying hypocrisy of trying to suppress natural instincts through superficial means.

• Louis

  Lena pretends to love Louis deeply but uses him solely to manipulate others, while Strudwarden and Elsie justify murder under a guise of necessity.

• The Occasional Garden

  Elinor's deception—ordering a fake garden and later lying about its destruction—highlights the lengths to which people go to uphold a false image.

• Louise

  Jane's casual dismissal of losing her niece contrasts with the dowager's feigned concern, highlighting the superficiality of their social interactions.

• The Guests

  Matilda outwardly treats the Bishop as a guest while subtly punishing him by sending away the cook, revealing the hypocrisy behind hospitality.

• The East Wing

  Canon Clore's grand pronouncements about suffrage and sacrifice are undercut by the butler's revelation that the fire was accidental.

• A Bread and Butter Miss

  Lola's claim of special powers and the guests' polite but resentful treatment of her reveal underlying hypocrisy.

• Forewarned

  Robert Bludward presents a cheerful, schoolboy-like exterior while being accused of corruption and moral decay, highlighting the gap between public image and private character.

• For the Duration of the War

  The Rev. Wilfrid Gaspilton, a clergyman, fabricates a literary fraud and uses the war as a pretext to avoid exposure, highlighting the gap between his public role and private deceit.