Liliputin-5044

I cannot tell a lie; it was I who chopped down the Birnam Forest ..."
King Liar Donald J. Trump


Liliputins. What, the heck, is this?
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“I cannot tell a lie; it was I who chopped down the cherry tree” – George Washington

George Washington never said this quote and instead, it was made up by the biographer Parson Weems. It was supposed to improve George Washington’s reputation and make him seem more honest. There’s no evidence to show that
Washington ever said this quote and instead, it’s seen as being a quote on morality.

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The cherry tree myth

The cherry tree myth is one of the oldest and best-known legends about George Washington. In the original story, when Washington was six years old, he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree with it. When his father discovered what George had done, he became angry. Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie… I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and declared that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.
The cherry tree myth has endured for more than two hundred years. It remains influential in Americans' beliefs about Washington. It has been referenced in countless books, movies, and television shows. The story has been featured in comic strips and cartoons, especially in political cartoons.

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What is Birnam Wood in Macbeth?
Birnam Wood is a forest near Dusinane Hill in Scotland. The English Army cuts it down and uses it to disguise their approach to the hill. This fulfills the prophecy set by the Weird Sisters.

How did Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane in Macbeth?
Birname Wood is chopped down at the command of Malcom by the English army. They carry the branches in order to camouflage their approach to Dusinane.

What did the witches say about Birnam Wood?
The witches conjure three apparitions. One is a child wearing a crown and carrying a tree. He predicts that Macbeth will be King of Scotland until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.

Birnam Wood in Macbeth
While Macbeth is a fictitious play authored by William Shakespeare, its primary setting is based on real-world locations. For example, Birnam Wood in Macbeth is a forest near Dunsinane Hill, where King Macbeth lives in his castle. Both of these locations were once battlegrounds for significant conflict in medieval Scotland. In the final act of Shakespeare's play, the forest plays a pivotal role. A prophecy Macbeth receives from three witches suggests he will remain king until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Because trees can't move and entire forests aren't capable of relocating, Macbeth believes this to be impossible. Considering himself invincible, he rests easy. Unbeknownst to Macbeth, his primary antagonists form an army, and Birnam Wood is central in their plan to overthrow his reign. The forest is therefore vital to the play's plot and primarily used to foretell and bring about Macbeth's tragic downfall, which will be further explained in this lesson.

The Birnam Wood Prophecy
In Macbeth, Macbeth twice encounters three witches known as the Weird Sisters. In his second visit, they conjure three apparitions, one of which predicts "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him." Macbeth interprets the prophecy literally, considering the possibility of his power being vanquished just as unlikely as trees uprooting themselves and walking up Dunsinane hill. "That will never be," he asserts. "Who can impress the forest, bid the tree unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! Good!" Satisfied, he returns home, assuming no enemy can harm him. Previously paranoid, he rests in a false sense of security, making himself vulnerable.

The Weird Sisters' prophecies are examples of foreshadowing, a dramatic and literary device providing insight into events that have yet to transpire in the story. Although Macbeth misinterprets them, the prophecies foretell his imminent fate and foreshadow coming events for the audience.


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30 psychological reasons why people lie
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We don't generally like to think of ourselves as people who lie, but the truth is we all lie from time to time. From small white lies to compulsive lying, it's done in all shapes and forms. One can even say that lying is instinctive because even young children do it without realizing it. But no matter how common it is to lie, it's still considered bad behavior. It can even be so bad that it often breaks the bond and trust between people, causing serious problems in both personal and professional relationships.

However, knowing the reasons why people lie can help us understand why people actually do it. In his gallery, let's take a look at the top 30 reasons why people lie. Click on to discover them all.

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Self-protection
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The most common reason for lying is self-protection. There might be a real consequence that the person is trying to defend themselves against.


Avoiding disappointment
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A person might lie in order to avoid disappointing another person or even themselves. The uncomfortable feeling of disappointment justifies the deception.

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Sense of superiority
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People with big egos tend to lie in order to maintain their superiority. They also do it to make themselves look better than others.