Early each morning, a father awakes, slips into his clothes, buckles his belt, and dashes out the door. A mother stretches her legs and shuffles toward the smell of coffee wafting up from downstairs as she plans the coming day of work. A child stirs and rubs the sleep out of their eyes. They slap the alarm clock to nullify the ringing and begin to prepare for the day of school ahead. Each family member has their own unique role in society. Men, women, and children have separate but intertwined lives that play out on a daily basis. This concept is commonly expressed in literature. One author who clarifies the role of each counterpart is Shirley Jackson: mother and author of The Lottery. In Jackson’s novel, the social and business roles of men, women, and children are clearly defined.
The role of men in this novel is to lead their household. Mr. Summers says, “‘Now, I'll read the names-heads of families first-and the men come up …show more content…
In the house, women complete chores as their husband, or father, works on the farm. When Mrs. Hutchinson is late for the Lottery, she says, "Wouldn't have me leave m'dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe?" (Jackson 125-126) Along with other women in the village, Mrs. Hutchinson is shown to obey her husband's orders. Women in this society are expected to listen to the men in her life. This is seen when Mr. Hutchinson commands his wife to “‘Shut up’” (Jackson 233). If they aren’t working around the house or following a man's orders, women are said to chatter with each other. Jackson tells the reader that as they gathered in the square, “They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands” (Jackson 31-32). In addition to participating in the Lottery as a sacrifice as their husbands and fathers do, one goal of the event for women was socialization. Not only do the women enjoy this activity, but the children as
The role of men in this novel is to lead their household. Mr. Summers says, “‘Now, I'll read the names-heads of families first-and the men come up …show more content…
In the house, women complete chores as their husband, or father, works on the farm. When Mrs. Hutchinson is late for the Lottery, she says, "Wouldn't have me leave m'dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe?" (Jackson 125-126) Along with other women in the village, Mrs. Hutchinson is shown to obey her husband's orders. Women in this society are expected to listen to the men in her life. This is seen when Mr. Hutchinson commands his wife to “‘Shut up’” (Jackson 233). If they aren’t working around the house or following a man's orders, women are said to chatter with each other. Jackson tells the reader that as they gathered in the square, “They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands” (Jackson 31-32). In addition to participating in the Lottery as a sacrifice as their husbands and fathers do, one goal of the event for women was socialization. Not only do the women enjoy this activity, but the children as