The Theme Of Cheating In Joyce Carol Oates's Nairobi

We have all been guilty of doing something bad and not realizing it because we are easily blinded by people and things. Almost anything can blind us: love, looks, and even wealth. Being ignorant and innocent while obviously doing something wrong is one of the many things in the story “Nairobi.” In “Nairobi,” the author Joyce Carol Oates, tells the story of Oliver and Ginny who fake being a couple and go to dinner with some of Oliver’s friends. The theme of cheating in this story is illustrated by the way that almost all the characters are pretending to be something they are not. Ginny is being forced, to some extent, to dress up formally and pretend to be someone who she really is not. A similar theme is found in the song I Know It’s Over by The Smiths. This song was written by Morrissey and Johnny …show more content…
Oliver and Ginny weren’t actually a couple, Herbert and his company had pulled a scam in Nairobi, and Marguerite wasn’t really happy in her relationship. "If you're so funny, then why are you on your own tonight? And if you're so clever, then why are you on your own tonight? If you're so very entertaining, then why are you on your own tonight? If you're so very good looking, why do you sleep alone tonight? I know because tonight is just like any other night…” (Morrissey) All the characters are showing that they are one thing when in reality they are the complete opposite. When it comes down to it they are all lonely and long to have someone that they actually enjoy. “But Oliver was working too hard, Marguerite protested” (Oates 178). In the story it is hinted that Marguerite and Herbert fight a lot. Later on Herbert tries to impress Ginny and give her the impression that he is a hardworking man who travels more than he likes. He tries to put out his good qualities in hopes that Ginny will give some type of positive response but she brushes it off and barely has the slightest clue of what Herbert is saying to