What makes a hoax successful?

The recipe to a successful hoax requires several important elements, as exemplified by Barnum’s short story, The Life of Joice Heth, the Nurse of George Washington. Although the line between a believable hoax and an unreasonable tale can be ambiguous, Barnum toes this line and masters the art of deception by crafting his story to fascinate his readers while keeping it relatively realistic. His success can be attributed to the ignorance of his audience, among other convenient coincidences and artful techniques. Around 1835, when this story was published, many people weren’t as informed about medical and health concerns as they are today. Thus, the idea of a living 161-year-old woman might have seemed probable and even miraculous to many. Additionally, Barnum used reputable sources like the New York Evening Star and Providence Daily Journal to support his arguments, which only boosted his credibility. Mainly, Barnum used details regarding Joice Heth’s life and a real certification that she was George Washington’s slave to convince his audience that she really existed. Furthermore, he offered to let others see her in a circus, which appealed those who did and did not believe in the tale because the believers wanted to see the real deal and the non-believers wanted to see proof that it was all a hoax. In the end, Barnum effectively creates a successful hoax by teetering along the line between a conceivable story and ridiculous myth to craft a convincing argument that appealed to the general public. However, falling too far over this line with a tale too ridiculous could discredit the author and fatally reduce his/her reputation.