Tradition is a belief or a certain habit that is passed down through the years. Tradition can be extremely dangerous when people begin to blindly follow it without question. Such examples are shown through the poem, “Mending Wall,” and the short story, “the Lottery.” The “Mending Wall,” shows two neighbors who have conflicting viewpoints on a certain issue but never try to change. The more serious story of, “The Lottery,” is the tale of a town that is blindly following a deadly tradition where the “winner” of their “lottery” is stoned to death. Though both authors incorporate the use of irony and symbolism to show how dangerous it can be to follow traditions, Shirley gives us a glimpse of a more extreme example and Frost’s story of the neighbors
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The wall in the poem represents tradition. Like the wall in the poem, traditions can stand even if they really do not have a real purpose. Frost says, “And on a day we meet to walk the line/ And set the wall between us again.” (13-14) This quotation shows how the neighbors knew change would help the situation, but the wall was always there to remind them to never question their actions.
Whereas, “The Lottery,” helps us to understand the theme by using irony. The first time irony is shown in Jackson’s story is in the title. The title, “The Lottery,” would automatically make one think of something positive or beneficial, when it is actually the complete opposite. Jackson says, “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny.” (289) The irony in the setting is that Jackson introduces the story on a “clear and sunny” day, but the story ends with the brutal murder of an innocent wife and mother. The people in the town think of this as people today would think of a holiday, as if they have lost connection with their feelings on this day. The townspeople act as if it was nothing to brutally stone to death one of their neighbors. Irony can also be seen in the name of, Mr. Graves, who is considered one of the leaders of the
The wall in the poem represents tradition. Like the wall in the poem, traditions can stand even if they really do not have a real purpose. Frost says, “And on a day we meet to walk the line/ And set the wall between us again.” (13-14) This quotation shows how the neighbors knew change would help the situation, but the wall was always there to remind them to never question their actions.
Whereas, “The Lottery,” helps us to understand the theme by using irony. The first time irony is shown in Jackson’s story is in the title. The title, “The Lottery,” would automatically make one think of something positive or beneficial, when it is actually the complete opposite. Jackson says, “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny.” (289) The irony in the setting is that Jackson introduces the story on a “clear and sunny” day, but the story ends with the brutal murder of an innocent wife and mother. The people in the town think of this as people today would think of a holiday, as if they have lost connection with their feelings on this day. The townspeople act as if it was nothing to brutally stone to death one of their neighbors. Irony can also be seen in the name of, Mr. Graves, who is considered one of the leaders of the