Shirley Jackson’s short stories “The Lottery” and “The Possibility of Evil” explore bad memories and relationships Shirley had from childhood until late adulthood. Shirley grew up with her mother and father in the city of Burlingame, California. Shirley’s parents maintained an upper middle class status. Her mother put a lot of pressure on Shirley to fit in but Shirley would rather just read a book then hangout with other friends. Shirley enjoyed living in California and was very upset when her family moved to Rochester when she was 17. Shirley attended the University of Rochester for one year before dropping out due to depression and other psychological problems. When she dropped out she took a two year hiatus where she taught herself how
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Jackson liked to exploit sexism in the world she lived in and “The gothic mode serves well Jackson 's purpose to explore the depths and contours of female violation in the modern world.” (Parks(Online)). Which shows why Jackson chooses a gothic and ominous setting for all of her stories. “Jackson often wrote stories where a woman victim was the protagonist and her struggle is the story.” (Kazin(Online)). Jackson viewed the society she lived in as “male-dominant” and used her writing to try and spread her beliefs. Jackson was very educated and a better writer than many men but still felt that because she was a woman she was treated differently. All of that helped Jackson to create the characters she …show more content…
Her mother resembled the perfect woman in the 1920’s, a socially conscious beautiful fashionista. Ger Her mother was obsessed with the way people looked and expected very much of Shirley to fit in. Shirley however struggled with obesity and didn’t become the girl Shirley’s mom, Geraldine Jackson, was looking for. However Shirley had a beautiful talent that her mother did not posses in the art of literature. Jackson began writing poetry and short stories as a young girl and realized she had a talent she enjoyed. In Jackson’s “The Lottery” the towns people blindly follow the tradition of stoning the “winner” of the lottery to death. The short story is horrifying and aroused a lot of concern by many people. In Jackson’s life even though she disagreed with her moms views and lifestyle it was easier for her to just listen and follow what her mom said then to go against it. This also goes for the town’s people in “The Lottery”; it is easier for them to follow the tradition then to go against it. The town’s people have been following the tradition for so long it would feel wrong not to stone somebody to death every year; “Numerous critics have carefully discussed Shirley Jackson 's The Lottery in terms of the scapegoat traditions of anthropology and literature, pointing out its obvious comment on the innate savagery of man lurking beneath his civilized trappings.” (Nebeker(Online)). Shirley Jackson not only used
Jackson liked to exploit sexism in the world she lived in and “The gothic mode serves well Jackson 's purpose to explore the depths and contours of female violation in the modern world.” (Parks(Online)). Which shows why Jackson chooses a gothic and ominous setting for all of her stories. “Jackson often wrote stories where a woman victim was the protagonist and her struggle is the story.” (Kazin(Online)). Jackson viewed the society she lived in as “male-dominant” and used her writing to try and spread her beliefs. Jackson was very educated and a better writer than many men but still felt that because she was a woman she was treated differently. All of that helped Jackson to create the characters she …show more content…
Her mother resembled the perfect woman in the 1920’s, a socially conscious beautiful fashionista. Ger Her mother was obsessed with the way people looked and expected very much of Shirley to fit in. Shirley however struggled with obesity and didn’t become the girl Shirley’s mom, Geraldine Jackson, was looking for. However Shirley had a beautiful talent that her mother did not posses in the art of literature. Jackson began writing poetry and short stories as a young girl and realized she had a talent she enjoyed. In Jackson’s “The Lottery” the towns people blindly follow the tradition of stoning the “winner” of the lottery to death. The short story is horrifying and aroused a lot of concern by many people. In Jackson’s life even though she disagreed with her moms views and lifestyle it was easier for her to just listen and follow what her mom said then to go against it. This also goes for the town’s people in “The Lottery”; it is easier for them to follow the tradition then to go against it. The town’s people have been following the tradition for so long it would feel wrong not to stone somebody to death every year; “Numerous critics have carefully discussed Shirley Jackson 's The Lottery in terms of the scapegoat traditions of anthropology and literature, pointing out its obvious comment on the innate savagery of man lurking beneath his civilized trappings.” (Nebeker(Online)). Shirley Jackson not only used