Deception and narrative technique in Herodotus' 'Histories

This dissertation examines Herodotus' use of deception in four specific areas: divine communication, excessive behavior, revenge, and slander. It looks at the presence of each of these categories in literature prior to, and sometimes more contemporary with, Herodotus' work and discusses the deceptive potential that each presents in his text.;Chapter one examines various deceptive uses of divine messages. The gods often communicate with man through oracles, dreams and portents, and characters utilize these to their benefit. Some exploit others by crafting fraudulent oracles, others trick oracles to test their accuracy, while some receive warnings in their dreams and try to circumvent their fate, only to deceive themselves and walk into their own traps. The second chapter looks at four facets of human desire: money, power, food and drink, and lust. Each is a desire shared by all men that, when not moderated, presents an easy method for deceiving them. It is the very inability to combat excessive behavior that makes the individual susceptible to deception. Chapter three concerns the true intentions behind the practice of revenge. It illustrates how some characters suggest motives that conceal revenge, while others proclaim the pursuit of vengeance to justify an ulterior motive. This suggests the manipulative potential inherent in this culturally accepted value. My last chapter presents instances of slander through verbal communication. Many individuals slander fellow citizens to deceive members of their own community, while some slander others to deceive and curry the favor of powerful individuals, especially kings. These instances demonstrate the shortcomings of reported information.;Each of these aspects plays an important role in Greek life, and Herodotus may be warning his fifth-century audience about their deceptive potential. Deception's frequent occurrence in these categories proves the need for good judgment when confronted with each of them. The individual who does not assess divine messages carefully, avoid excessive behavior, keenly evaluate revenge motives, or properly identify slanderous comments likely will find himself the victim of deception.