The story Liars
The story Liars Don’t Qualify by Junius Edward talks about the humiliation and personal and social degradation experienced by African Americans on racist denials to equal access and right to vote. Through the various form of intimidation and obstruction, the use of literary tests and poll taxes frustrated the right of the African Americans to register and vote. The essay will look at how the author conveys his idea through the use of dialogue and the ironic part of the story, and the significance of the dialogue in this story and what information will be left out if the dialogue was not used.
The use of dialogue in the story is very effective and interesting. The true picture of characters and what is happening in the story can be grasped easily. The way the characters are interacting in the story, their relationship is revealed. The dialogue helps to get the idea of racism among the characters. Will is facing a lot of frustrations from Sam and Charlie, and the two are treating him with disrespect. Besides, the way they are responding to him and asking him questions shows they are not ready to register him, “Charlie. This boy here says he came to register.” “You sure that’s what he said, Sam?” (Edwards). It could be difficult to get the real picture of the characters through narration, thus the use of dialogue is significant. Moreover, if the use of dialogue is omitted in the story, it could not be easy to grasp the true picture in the story. It is ironic how the declaration book in the register’s office says about equality to all citizens and how Sam and Charlie are treating Will. From the declaration book, it is written, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they…” (Edwards). The two intimidate Will with a lot of questions and even end up not registering him at last.
Generally, the story has shown how racism has thrived in the register’s office which has even denied Will the right to vote. The idea is brought out clearly through dialogue. The author used the skill of dialogue and narration to ensure the idea reaches the audience. Without the use of dialogue the relationship between Will and the two register officers, Charlie and Sam, could not have been brought out clearly. Lastly, the story has given an ironic situation where the officer is not serving all the citizens equally according to the declaration book.