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The Perception of Reality

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Submitted By KatherineBeach
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Pages 5
The Perception of Reality
Betrayal undeniably hurts. The betrayal of a family member results in suffering on a far deeper level, especially when the treason comes in the form of murder. “Flesh and Blood”, by Pamela Colloff, tells the true story of the murder of a family, as orchestrated by sixteen-year old, Erin Caffey. This teenager allegedly coerced her boyfriend, Charlie Wilkinson, and two others into slaying her mother, and two brothers. Her father survived the attack. The town of Alba struggled to come to terms with the knowledge that virtuous Erin Caffey would plan the murder of her family. The series of interviews Colloff conducted creates an intimate view, allowing the reader to experience the emotions felt by the community of Alba. The town was deceived by the façade Erin used to hide her intentions to kill her family. In “Flesh and Blood”, Colloff employs pathos to reveal the discrepancy in society between perception and reality.
Colloff uses shock to her advantage by intentionally keeping her readers in the dark until she is ready to divulge the secret side of Erin Caffey. She builds the story slowly, revealing Erin’s true character one piece at a time. Initially, Colloff bolsters Erin’s reputation, describing her as “a slight, pretty blonde… known for her beautiful singing voice, which she showcased in soaring gospel solos at Miracle Faith Sundays” (112). This angelic description could hardly describe the mastermind of a murder. Colloff instills a certain perception of Erin, so the focus is placed on her virtues. Slowly, through the uses of stories, Colloff develops Erin as an innocent teenager whose only flaw is a tendency to be rebellious in her choice of boys. She seems like a fairly typical high school girl, with the exception that she wants to have her family murdered. To unveil this hidden side of Erin, Colloff uses an abrupt change of pace in her

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