Some towns may seem normal at first, but when people look closer, they may realize how abnormal they really are. If readers just skim over the details of the towns in these stories, they would think that everything is normal; but it is actually the opposite of that. There are many similarities between Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil” and “The Lottery.” Some of the most striking similarities include foreshadowing, setting, and symbolism.
One of the first similarities the reader will notice between the two stories is in the use of setting that appears to be normal. Both stories start off with a inviting setting. For example, “The Lottery” begins by saying “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day.” “The Possibility of Evil” begins by stating “The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear.” Both stories settings have …show more content…
There are many symbols in each story; but the focus will be on the names that she uses as symbols. In “The Lottery”, the two men involved with running the lottery both have symbolic names. Mr. Summers gets his name from the fact that the lottery takes place in the summer; Mr. Graves has his name because he is one of the people who help conduct the lottery and the person who is chosen is stoned to death and when a person dies they are buried. In “The Possibility of Evil”; the house that Miss Strangeworth lives on is Pleasant Street; which is ironic because she is actually anything but pleasant. As with other similarities, there are examples of this in both stories.
Readers of Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil” and “The Lottery” will quickly notice many similarities, including setting, foreshadowing, and symbolism. These similarities make Jackson’s writing distinct and recognizable. These similarities help the reader relate to the text to themselves, to the story, and to what's going on in the world around
One of the first similarities the reader will notice between the two stories is in the use of setting that appears to be normal. Both stories start off with a inviting setting. For example, “The Lottery” begins by saying “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day.” “The Possibility of Evil” begins by stating “The sun was shining, the air was fresh and clear.” Both stories settings have …show more content…
There are many symbols in each story; but the focus will be on the names that she uses as symbols. In “The Lottery”, the two men involved with running the lottery both have symbolic names. Mr. Summers gets his name from the fact that the lottery takes place in the summer; Mr. Graves has his name because he is one of the people who help conduct the lottery and the person who is chosen is stoned to death and when a person dies they are buried. In “The Possibility of Evil”; the house that Miss Strangeworth lives on is Pleasant Street; which is ironic because she is actually anything but pleasant. As with other similarities, there are examples of this in both stories.
Readers of Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil” and “The Lottery” will quickly notice many similarities, including setting, foreshadowing, and symbolism. These similarities make Jackson’s writing distinct and recognizable. These similarities help the reader relate to the text to themselves, to the story, and to what's going on in the world around