Hypocrisy, the disjunction between one's professed beliefs and actual behavior, serves as a prominent

theme in literature, offering a critical lens through which poets examine societal flaws and personal
introspection. This essay aims to explore the theme of hypocrisy in two poems, "A Stone's Throw" and
"Once Upon A Time," uncovering evidence within the verses to support the analysis.

Elma Mitchell's "A Stone's Throw" delves into the depths of moral hypocrisy, drawing inspiration from
the biblical narrative of John 8:1-11. The poem portrays a group of men who, self-righteously, prepare to
stone a woman accused of adultery. However, the intervention of a mysterious figure disrupts their
callous intentions, forcing them to confront their own moral failings. Lines 15 to 25 vividly capture the
moral hypocrisy as the men justify their actions, considering themselves superior to the accused woman.
The lines reveal a prejudiced mindset, implying a history of judgment and a lack of self-awareness.
Phrases like "They think they're better than this woman" and "not the first time" expose a pattern of
moral self-deception, emphasizing the hypocritical nature of their judgment. The attempt to rationalize
their violence by comparing it to the alleged promiscuity of the woman further underscores the depth of
their hypocrisy.

Gabriel Okara's "Once Upon A Time" explores the theme of societal hypocrisy and the loss of
authenticity in human interactions. The poem reflects on the societal pressure to conform to false
personas and the consequent erosion of genuine emotions, using the metaphor of a fairytale to convey
a longing for a simpler, more authentic existence. Stanzas 1, 4, and 5 vividly illustrate the hypocrisy
within societal norms. The poet describes a time when people "used to laugh with their hearts and laugh
with their eyes," emphasizing the authenticity of emotions openly shared. However, the shift to people
now "only laugh with their teeth while ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow" portrays the
deceptive nature of contemporary interactions. The speaker's lament in stanzas 4 and 5 further exposes
the hypocrisy, revealing how societal expectations force individuals to hide their true emotions, wear
masks, and engage in superficial exchanges.

Both poems, though distinct in context and style, converge on the theme of hypocrisy. "A Stone's
Throw" focuses on moral hypocrisy within a specific incident, revealing the judgmental nature of the
characters and their selective self-righteousness. On the other hand, "Once Upon A Time" explores the
broader societal hypocrisy, highlighting the loss of genuine emotions and the prevalence of false facades
in human interactions.

In the analysis of "A Stone's Throw" and "Once Upon A Time," the poets use distinct narratives to
unravel the theme of hypocrisy. Mitchell exposes moral hypocrisy through the lens of biblical justice,
while Okara critiques societal norms, revealing the erosion of authenticity in human interactions.
Together, these poems serve as poignant reminders of the need for introspection and societal change to
combat the pervasive hypocrisy that taints both individual actions and collective behaviors.
The idea of hypocrisy, where someone says one thing but does another, is a big focus in literature. Poets
use this theme to look closely at problems in society and make people think about themselves. This
essay looks into the theme of hypocrisy in two poems, "A Stone's Throw" and "Once Upon A Time," by
finding proof in the verses.

In Elma Mitchell's "A Stone's Throw," the poem talks about people acting one way but doing something
else, inspired by a story from the Bible. The story is about men planning to hurt a woman they say did
something wrong. But someone comes and stops them, making them face their own mistakes. Lines 15
to 25 show how these men try to explain their actions, thinking they are better than the woman. These
lines suggest a history of judging others and not realizing their own faults. Phrases like "They think
they're better than this woman" and "not the first time" show a pattern of pretending to be better than
they really are, proving their hypocrisy. Trying to justify their violence by talking about the woman's
behavior adds to their hypocrisy.

Gabriel Okara's "Once Upon A Time" talks about societal hypocrisy and how people pretend to be
someone they're not, causing real emotions to disappear. Okara uses a fairytale metaphor to express a
desire for a simpler and more real life. Stanza 1, 4, and 5 show how society is hypocritical. The poet talks
about a time when people openly shared their emotions, laughing with their hearts and eyes. But now,
people fake their laughter and hide behind a fake smile. The speaker's sadness in stanzas 4 and 5 shows
the hypocrisy, where societal expectations make people hide their true feelings and pretend to be
someone else.

Even though "A Stone's Throw" and "Once Upon A Time" are different in their stories and styles, they
both talk about hypocrisy. "A Stone's Throw" looks at moral hypocrisy in a specific situation, showing
how judgmental characters act like they are better than others. On the other hand, "Once Upon A Time"
explores broader societal hypocrisy, pointing out the loss of true emotions and the prevalence of fake
behavior.

In the analysis of "A Stone's Throw" and "Once Upon A Time," the poets use different stories to show
the theme of hypocrisy. Mitchell exposes moral hypocrisy through a biblical story, while Okara criticizes
societal norms, showing how real feelings in human interactions are disappearing. Together, these
poems remind us of the need to think about ourselves and make changes in society to tackle the
widespread hypocrisy that affects both individual actions and collective behaviors.