The New Yorker

The Repercussions of Tradition Throughout history, many different traditions and prejudices have been passed down from generation to generation. The consequences of failing to question and criticize rituals can lead to the primitive downfall of human nature. In Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery,” villagers gather around to participate in the annual town lottery. An air of nervousness and distress surrounds the villagers as the young boys run to collect stones in one corner of the town…

“The Lottery” is a short story written by Shirley Jackson. In this story we see the power of what a few words can accomplish. On the morning of June 27th every year, all the townspeople gather together to pull small white pieces of paper out of a black box. The reason for the lottery has been long since forgotten, but every year the people still gather in the middle of the town, children first, then men, and lastly women. After the roll call, one person from each family, typically the man, comes…

Traditions have been a vital part of the world since the beginning of time. Whether it be cutting down a Christmas tree at Christmas time or trick or treating at Halloween, traditions come in all shapes and forms and are celebrated all around the world. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, a society continues a tradition that has went on for many years. Not only is this such a skewed tradition, it is one that can cause potential harm to those who participate. Jackson reveals Mrs. Hutchinson…

Shirley Jackson is the author of the short story called “The Lottery.” When reading this story, the reader could possibly believe that they are able to foresee the ending. “The Lottery” takes place in a small town, with a population of about three hundred people, on June 27 at ten in the morning. Jackson provides the reader with visuals that range from the town gathering and getting ready for the lottery to the town kids playing outside and collecting rocks. The importance of this lottery is…

Shirley Jackson 's “The Lottery”, is a story chalk full of symbolism. Jackson uses symbolism to help her point out to the readers that humans are not completely innocent, no matter how innocent one may think of themself to be, or how innocent the world around them looks to be. “The Lottery” is very effective in making the reader question why tradition is so important. Jackson uses “The Lottery” to convey her hatred of humans hiding behind tradition and old habits to do evil. In writing this…

Many of the short stories in Elizabeth McCracken’s HERE’S YOUR HAT WHAT’S YOUR HURRY (1993) contain characters so abnormal that they are seen in circus sideshows. However, the author’s focus is on the response of ordinary people to their encounters with the extraordinary. The subject of McCracken’s first novel is the same, but the approach is different. THE GIANT’S HOUSE is appropriately subtitled “A Romance.” Not only is it a story of romantic love, but it is also the kind of fiction which,…

Truman Capote had several visits to see Perry while he was in jail waiting to be convicted for the murder of the Clutter family. After reading this essay the reader will find out whether Capotes visits were unethical, or if he just visited Perry so he could have more details for his story. We will go through the three stages where he started to use his emotions to get what he wanted. Those three stages are when Capote uses Perry for his story, the time that Capote and Perry spent together and…

it at the time, Anne wants to frighten Charlotte to help her sickness stop her heart. If the young girl is successful with this, she will receive Charlotte’s riches. In another occasion, Anne sends her a note to get out of bed and go see the fresh, new rock garden. The young helper of Charlotte thinks to herself, “By the end of August our garden was so lovely, I would have liked to die there myself” (Jackson 294). Anne takes the ill girl out and Charlotte is bitten by a milk snake, which is very…

Title: Milo’s Miracle Milo looked up at the sky. It was a hot, clear day with the boiling sun blazing down. He wished to be selling lemonade at a stand or riding his bike down the street with the other kids. Instead, he was getting water from the well. Milo and his mother were not very rich. As matter of fact, they were poor, with very little money. Milo did chores all around the house helping his Mother as much as he could. His Mother was usually working hard doing different jobs to make…

Throughout the ages, we have seen that a symbol in literature can suggest more than its average run of the mill meaning. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” she uses several different symbols for their realistic and symbolic meanings. On the realistic level, each symbol sets as a part and that has its own place in the story but represents a hidden thought or idea upon closer inspection. She uses symbolism for these items in the story to create a sense of foreshadowing and to create some…