Impulse

Impulse A Life of Self-Deception “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832), Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17. In the short story, Impulse, Conrad Aiken illustrates the main character, Michael Lowes, as an irresponsible person that lies, steals, and is nothing short of a procrastinator. Aiken uses the other characters of his story to enhance the persona of Michael. And above all, Michael has become infected with self-deception by making himself believe that he is still a “good man” and “fate” is against him. Michael Lowes becomes a victim of his own guise when he is suddenly hit by the reality of his actions. The depth of Michael’s character starts with a cocky man engrossed in the mirror, wondering whether or not he should tell his wife, Dora, about staying out all night to play cards with his friends. He knows his wife will be unhappy because he should be home after work to do the paper work and pay the bills like any other responsible family man would. But instead of talking to her about the evening, he decides to slip out the door impulse, michael, just, man, himself, aiken, friends, reader, about, thought, out, nothing, little, good, children, wife, stealing, self-deception, says, really, reality, p4, once, michael’s, impulses, course, work, whether, time, things, take, shell, put, own, life