# How does The Secret History develop the theme of Hypocrisy and Deception?

> The Secret History by Procopius

## Answer

The Secret History by Procopius develops Hypocrisy and Deception across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

Procopius exposes the hypocrisy of Justinian and Theodora, who publicly pose as pious and just rulers while privately engaging in deceit, broken oaths, and calculated cruelty to maintain power.

Procopius admits he had to hide the truth in his earlier works due to fear, highlighting the deception required to survive under a tyrannical regime.

The gap between public piety and private depravity, as seen in the court's moral hypocrisy and secret machinations.

Antonina's elaborate lies and Belisarius's willful blindness exemplify the theme of deception, as the general prefers to distrust his own eyes rather than confront his wife's infidelity.

## Evidence

- [foreword-by-the-historian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/foreword-by-the-historian.md): Procopius admits he had to hide the truth in his earlier works due to fear, highlighting the deception required to survive under a tyrannical regime.
- [the-secret-history](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/the-secret-history.md): The gap between public piety and private depravity, as seen in the court's moral hypocrisy and secret machinations.
- [i-how-the-great-general-belisarius-was-hoodwinked-by-his-wife-whose-lover-became-a-monk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/i-how-the-great-general-belisarius-was-hoodwinked-by-his-wife-whose-lover-became-a-monk.md): Antonina's elaborate lies and Belisarius's willful blindness exemplify the theme of deception, as the general prefers to distrust his own eyes rather than confront his wife's infidelity.
- [ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/ii-how-belated-jealousy-affected-belisarius-s-military-judgment-to-the-joy-of-the-enemy.md): Antonina deceives John the Cappadocian with oaths, and Belisarius swears sacred oaths to Photius while still loving his wife, planning revenge but not harm to her.
- [viii-character-and-appearance-of-justinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/viii-character-and-appearance-of-justinian.md): Justinian is portrayed as deceitful, false, hypocritical, and two-faced, never truthful and skilled in dissembling his thoughts.
- [x-how-justinian-created-a-new-law-permitting-him-to-marry-a-courtesan-on-her-promise-to-repent-her-past-and-the-truth-about-the-apparent-quarrels-of-a-happy-pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/x-how-justinian-created-a-new-law-permitting-him-to-marry-a-courtesan-on-her-promise-to-repent-her-past-and-the-truth-about-the-apparent-quarrels-of-a-happy-pair.md): Justinian and Theodora feign opposition to each other to manipulate public opinion and consolidate power.
- [xi-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-ruined-his-subjects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xi-how-the-defender-of-the-faith-ruined-his-subjects.md): Justinian claims to secure peace by bribing barbarians, but this only encourages further invasions.
- [xii-proving-that-justinian-and-theodora-were-actually-fiends-in-human-form](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_history_se/chapters/xii-proving-that-justinian-and-theodora-were-actually-fiends-in-human-form.md): The emperor and empress use deceptive methods such as forged letters and false claims of inheritance to rob the Senate and wealthy citizens.

## Links

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