As the narrator of Charles Brockden Brown's Wieland, Clara is unreliable. The fantastic events he recounts are incredible and inexplicable, leading readers to question the validity of his tale. For example, he introduces the theory of empiricism, according to which all human beings are born with a blank slate, completely dependent on their senses for the knowledge they gain. However, Clara reveals the altered state of her senses, leading readers to question her credibility as a narrator. Through this theory, Clara is exposed as an unreliable source for the novel, indicating that the events she recounts are false. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Clara introduces the theory of empiricism at the beginning of the story. He states: “the will is the instrument of the intellect, which must model its conclusions on the indications of the senses” (39). Therefore, human beings are born with a blank slate and all knowledge acquired since birth is acquired through their senses. However, he admits that "if the senses are depraved, it is impossible to calculate the evils that can arise from the consequent deductions of the intellect" (39). Through this theory we can deduce that if Clara's senses were impaired due to emotional trauma, then her understanding of her surroundings was impaired as a result. But what if the senses had been depraved by madness? Clara's senses have been altered due to her emotional trauma, affecting her mental state. Therefore, her ability to understand the events happening around her has been compromised and she, as a narrator, has proven to be unreliable. Clara's state of mind has been compromised by her trauma and emotional condition, making her an unreliable witness to the events she describes. . She admits that nothing but ambiguities, interruptions, and obscure transitions can be expected from the historian who is, at the same time, the victim of these disasters (167). Clara recognizes that in her current state of mind she cannot be completely trusted and that her account of past events is subject to errors and uncertainties. He states that as someone who has endured and suffered tragic events, his ability to recount all of these tragic events may not be entirely accurate. Meanwhile, he is struggling to complete his letter about the events that occurred, but declares that he will "persevere to the end," at least living long enough to finish telling his story (167). However, as he rushes to complete the tale, he says that, in his haste, the story he has recorded may be at risk of errors. His tone in this passage is frantic and tormented, the voice of desperation. She fears she could be killed at any moment. This desperation lays bare her current state of mind, belying her credibility as a narrator, as she herself admits the "inaccuracy and confusion" that peppers her entire narrative (167). Due to the mental trauma and emotional turmoil that have compromised Clara's rationality, her narrative is riddled with numerous flaws, leading readers to question the legitimacy of the rest of her tale. In providing the "flawed account" of his father's death, he concludes it as "the sum of the information [he] chose to provide," implying that there is still information about his death that is untold or unknown (20) . Reflecting on the same incident, he offers two explanations for the cause of his father's death: divine interference or a medical irregularity of the heart (21). However, she leaves the conclusion open, indicating that she is also unsure of the".