Nothing but the Truth: A Documentary Novel

by Avi

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Themes and Characters

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Perhaps Nothing but the Truth is best understood as a tragedy, containing elements reminiscent of Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Miss Narwin is an idealist, much like Hamlet. Her downfall is primarily due to her virtues, similar to Hamlet's fate. Her downfall is as unjust as Hamlet's death. The "Miss" in Miss Narwin's name is emphasized by Philip's scornful mention, implying no man would have her. However, Nothing but the Truth heavily relies on dramatic irony, and Philip's harsh words actually highlight that Miss Narwin is devoted to her work and passionate about teaching. Philip's derogatory comments are not the only information we have about Miss Narwin, even though they are the main source of the misinformation spread about her. Other students speak of Miss Narwin with respect, describing her as "fair" to students. Cynthia Gambria asserts, "She's [Narwin] a fair teacher. All the kids say so." The reaction of students to Philip's falsehoods further reveals Miss Narwin's character. Allison Doresett, the girl Philip is interested in, states, " . . . I think he was doing it to get Miss Narwin in trouble."

Miss Narwin is a figure of authority who should be treated with respect, but Philip's accusations expose the fragility of her position. As he spreads his lies and others react, it becomes clear that Miss Narwin, like many teachers, has been given responsibility without real authority. One of the key ironies in Nothing but the Truth is that many people believe she has significant power—they claim she suspended or even "expelled" Philip, yet she cannot do so. Only the school's principal or vice principal has the authority to expel a student. The order in her classroom and the enforcement of rules she did not create depend on student cooperation. Miss Narwin may be held responsible, but she lacks the authority to discipline misbehaving students. This untenable situation leads to her downfall from the profession she loves and results in her bitter exile.

Philip is a nuanced character, which adds depth to a plot that could easily paint him as a villain. In Hamlet, King Claudius is a skilled administrator with a knack for words, which pleases those around him, and he is tormented by his heinous crime—traits that humanize him as a villain. Similarly, Philip is a well-rounded character. Although he frequently goofs off in school, he does put effort into studying math and admits to enjoying it, even if other students might find that odd. This suggests a potential strength of character in Philip, hinting at the possibility of him becoming a good person. He is also an idealist, dreaming of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team if he works hard and gets into college.

Philip's positive traits hint at the potential for him to grow into a remarkable individual. Although his humor tends to be harsh, with maturity, it might evolve into a way to alleviate tough times for both himself and others. His dedication to activities he is passionate about could broaden his sense of responsibility and help him reach his dream of becoming an athletic star. However, when the track coach informs him that he must maintain passing grades in all his courses to participate in after-school sports, and even suggests ways to improve his grade in Miss Narwin's English class, Philip chooses a less honorable path. Instead of putting in the effort needed to fulfill his aspirations, he succumbs to his flaws. He complains in his diary that teachers should give him a pass because he considers himself a nice guy, and claims that Miss Narwin dislikes him because she is a bitter spinster, while he is a wonderful person. This poor decision ultimately leads to his own disappointment and causes significant trouble for Miss Narwin, who has always wished the best for him.

Avi takes care to clearly establish the context early in Nothing but the Truth. Philip did not finish reading Jack London's The Call of the Wild (see separate entry) because he did not find it enjoyable. His essay response on a test about The Call of the Wild is a brief, insulting paragraph suggesting the novel should be about a cat. Philip finds this amusing, but it falls far short of an acceptable analysis of London's work. Perhaps due to grade inflation or sympathy for his emotional issues, Miss Narwin gives Philip a C- on his exam. Philip's immature reaction to this grade marks a significant step in the decline of his character.

When evaluating fiction and drama, critics often look for character development in the main characters; growth in their personalities is seen as a sign of strong characterization, indicating they have interacted with and been affected by the story's events. Hamlet, for example, has a deeper understanding of what it means to be a complete man by the end of his play than he did at the beginning. He evolves from lamenting his situation to realizing that "readiness is all" when facing death. In Nothing but the Truth, such growth is absent in the main characters, except in the sense that Miss Narwin learns the extent to which a student can harm even a good teacher. By the conclusion of Nothing but the Truth, the idealistic teacher sees through the district superintendent's deceit. Philip, however, shows no signs of growth. His crying and saying "I don't know the words" reflect self-pity rather than self-awareness.

Rather than maturing, Philip finds himself ensnared in a web of deceit. He regresses from a joyful, confident young man into a defensive, unhappy boy. Faced with choices between difficult paths and easy ones, he consistently opts for the easy route. Instead of putting in the effort to improve his grades, he blames the teacher. His exam results clearly show that his poor performance is his own fault. When his parents question why he doesn't join the track team, despite his athletic talent, he chooses to lie. Assigned to Miss Narwin's homeroom, he goes out of his way to be disruptive; rather than acknowledging his own role in his predicament, he directs his anger at his teacher, classmates, and the national anthem, which he mockingly hums loudly. Philip is so self-absorbed and self-righteous that he expects his peers to back him against their teacher, whom he paints as a villain. However, the antics that might have amused his classmates in the past now repel them as they grow more mature. While Philip's feigned good nature may deceive adults, his peers see through his facade.

Philip's classmates are intriguing characters. As Philip devolves into a cowardly liar, they provide commentary on him and the novel's events, much like a modern chorus in an ancient Greek play. In the works of Sophocles and others, a chorus would inform the audience about the unfolding drama, often highlighting the main characters' flaws, underscoring dramatic irony, and summarizing scenes. In Nothing but the Truth, the high school students accentuate irony; they expose the disparity between Philip's view of events and reality, and they show how little adults care about the truth. They serve as voices of reason in a tale of a lie spiraling out of control; Philip sulks when his peers do not support him, but they recognize how hollow he has become. Given the chance to take a step toward maturity, Philip sidesteps it, and the chorus of his classmates' voices highlights that he has become a fraud, a national hero for selfish, lazy behavior. As adults vilify Miss Narwin due to Philip's lies and the ensuing distortion of truth, demanding her dismissal, the students consistently remind readers that Miss Narwin deserves respect, that she is "fair" to her students, even "good."

One of the elements that makes Nothing but the Truth appealing to young readers is its respect for their intelligence, particularly in how it portrays Philip's classmates. Philip's descent from a promising athlete to a fraud has universal themes that make it relatable. For example, the temptation to avoid taking responsibility for foolish actions is something many people experience; Philip succumbs to these common temptations. His acts of cruelty and selfishness are thus understandable, as they are impulses that people often learn to control as they mature into responsible adults.

Nothing but the Truth is a highly emotional book that succeeds in stirring feelings without resorting to sensationalism. There are no serial killers, drug dealers, or bullies; instead, the story revolves around everyday issues. One of these issues is behavior at school. Superintendent Seymour identifies the problem as: "People scream if the kids are not educated. Then they scream if you ask for the money to do it." Like other adults in the story, he misses the mark, highlighting how adults let a minor student infraction spiral out of control. Seymour, Philip's parents, Mr. Griffin, Jennifer Stewart, and others twist Philip's lies into separate issues that serve their own interests, ignoring the real issue of Philip's behavior. To Philip's credit, he attempts to clarify that he was humming, not singing, and feels uncomfortable with the commotion surrounding his conflict with Miss Narwin. However, he fails to assert himself strongly enough to rectify the situation. By choosing the easy way out and avoiding responsibility, he is easily manipulated by the adults who seek to use him for their own agendas. Miss Narwin also suffers, as even Seymour betrays her.

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