The Role of Deception and Manipulation in How to Get Away with Murder: A Study of How Characters Use Lies to Further Their Goals
The Role of Deception and Manipulation in How to Get Away with Murder: A Study of How Characters Use Lies to Further Their Goals
Deception and manipulation are central themes in How to Get Away with Murder, with nearly every major character relying on lies and hidden motives to get what they want. Annalise Keating, the series’ central figure, is a master manipulator, both in her professional and personal life. Her legal strategies often involve spinning the truth to her advantage, and throughout the series, she teaches her students the art of using deception to win cases.
The show is filled with instances where characters deceive others, whether it’s to protect themselves, cover up a crime, or gain an advantage. This manipulation is not confined to the courtroom; it permeates personal relationships as well. The characters are constantly navigating a web of lies, with their actions often coming back to haunt them. Whether it’s the students, who make increasingly risky decisions to protect their own secrets, or Annalise herself, whose actions blur the lines of professional ethics, the show portrays how deceit can be both a survival tactic and a source of moral conflict.
How to Get Away with Murder expertly demonstrates how deception is an essential tool for those navigating the criminal justice system, while also highlighting the emotional and psychological toll it takes on those who live with these lies. The show’s emphasis on manipulation and the consequences of deceit provides a compelling and dramatic look at how the truth can be obscured in pursuit of personal goals.
