In A Journal of the Plague Year, Daniel Defoe uses several methods to create a compelling story from fiction. In developing a false diary entry, Defoe creates authenticity primarily through the narrator, HF. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The style and language of HF's supposed diary play an important role in building authenticity. But beyond these aspects of the narrative is the development of HF's story. Although this narrator's personality is not always strong or clear, Defoe manages to reinforce the authenticity of the "diary" through aspects of HF's character. Defoe explores HF's emotions and motivations to make him more real. It must convince the reader that behind this story there is a living person, with reasons for writing it and a place in its events. The existence and credibility of this human presence are central to Defoe's quest to construct authenticity. Many stylistic aspects of the novel contribute to a sense of reality. The outpouring of disgusting, painful, and tragic information creates an effect that mimics the overwhelming emotional trauma of the plague. By providing answers in advance to any plausible question with this surfeit of information, Defoe almost invites the reader to question HF's credibility. Defoe plants false evidence with graphs and mathematical diagrams to support all of HF's claims. It also includes purported government documents from the time, with dates to further promote a sense of reality. For example, the existence of dates in HF's statement that "These orders of Mr. Mayor were published, as I said, at the end of June, and have taken place since July 1st...,"(57) is more important than their authenticity. Defoe is creating an official tone to discourage doubts or questions. Subtle hints that consistently defend the truth of HF's account can be found in Defoe's use of language. Amidst the stream of disturbing stories and terrifying facts, Defoe structures HF's sentences to remind the reader of HF's physical presence at the time of these events. Throughout the book, sentences are interrupted by these reminders. Almost every reported fact is accompanied by the presence of one of these statements, which always involve the first person. Brief moments like "One of the worst days we've had in all this time, as I thought, was..." (118) or "I say, let anyone consider..." (113) or "Here I must observe," ( 95) match all the facts and details to a person. And the presence of a human story behind all this concrete evidence greatly complements the sense of reality. To present a distinctly human story, Defoe must present a distinctly human HF. Defoe uses emotions to carefully create HF's authenticity as a real human being. HF's emotions are revealed sparingly, as he becomes aware of the manifestations of the plague or reacts to specific events. In these cases, Defoe deals a double blow: he includes the physical presence of HF in the story and at the same time incites pity in the reader. This is a key emotion in connecting with HF, as a human character, who demonstrates that he can suffer like any human being. The reader pities HF, and therefore identifies with him, when he explains "I must admit that this period was terrible, that at times I was at the end of all my resolutions, and that I did not have the courage I had at the beginning." (189) In a book of disturbing stories, it is very convincing to find the narrator caught in a moment of emotion. After hearing the devastating story of a poor man's family's death, HF explains that "I saw the tears.