“Seeing is believing” is an age old adage which is also contradicted by Plato’s saying Appearance is always deceptive because it appears to appear”. Some times truth is not quite impressive. She needs the support of limping old maid called time to prove herself. Being a cynic and skeptic, Mr. Sletherby takes up a stand right at the beginning of the encounter, not to show any interest in the young man’s fussy outbursts. He carefully lays the trap by telling a lie that he had not seen his mom. He further asks him cleverly if his mom resembled him.
Both Bertie himself and Mr. Sletherby are unaware of the altered looks of Mrs. Saltpen-Jago. There is a dramatic irony when the son himself gives a different version of his mom’s appearance. This influences the decision of Mr. Sletherby in refusing to lend Bertie a loan of three pounds. Thus the adage “Seeing is believing” is humorously disproved in this story. Enquiring thoroughly and compassionately one can find the truth.
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.
