An American Dream Lies and Deceit Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

I could go into more detail about the […] steps which left me a young Congressman […] but that would merely describe the adventures of the part which I as a young actor was playing. (1.10)

It turns out that Rojack was a prodigious liar well before the misadventures chronicled in An American Dream. On one hand, this passage is a pretty sick burn against politicians in general and how they lie for self-serving purposes. But Mailer is also making a point about the lies that we all tell (to others and to ourselves) in order to fulfill other peoples' expectations.

Quote #2

I howled then in a simulation of woe, but the woe was real—for the first time I knew she was gone—and it was an animal howl. (2.87)

Although Rojack is straight-up lying about the circumstances behind Deborah's death, he can't help but feel real grief. Ultimately, this probably works to his benefit: His lies must seem a lot more realistic coming from a place of raw emotion.

Quote #3

"Listen, pet, I have something awful to tell you. She had a sniff of you on me. And then she jumped." (3.22)

That is cold-hearted, dude—you're not only lying about the fact that you murdered your wife, but you're placing all of the blame on a poor, innocent woman. Although the real lying has only just begun, we can already tell that Rojack is playing for keeps.