Storytelling

Storytelling is the most prominent motif throughout the book. The main plot follows Jacob trying to construct and spread a story which can give his struggling community the hope to continue. The nature of his story, that liberation will be coming soon and that the ghetto’s prisoners no longer need to throw away their lives, is crafted to inspire hope and the will to continue onwards as even as the situation becomes harsher. Although the book’s title, Jacob the Liar, connects Jacob’s actions with lying, throughout the book Jacob compares himself to more of a storyteller. He even curses his lack of imagination and creativity, swearing that his task would be much easier if he had the creativity and wit of a great storyteller.

The power of Jacob’s story has a remarkable effect on the ghetto. Once suicides were very common, with...