The New Yorker

In “A&P,” John Updike tells the story of a nineteen year old boy named Sammy who makes a dumb decision that he thinks is a wise choice. However, Sammy's knightly act of courage goes unseen by Queenie and her friends, and he has to learn to live with the repercussions of his actions. Updike's Story “A&P,” reveals Sammy as an immature boy who is a judgmental teen, a disrespectful employee, and is prejudiced toward women. First, Updike introduces Sammy as judgmental teen who has a sour attitude…

Walter Mitty is a man who uses his active imagination to escape the pressures of his wife. Shrewd and controlling in nature Mrs.Mitty is constantly emasculating Walter. The only thing that allows Walter to endure is his vivid imagination; however his wife tries to smother this form of self expression too. In “ A Jury of Her Peers” the motif of oppressive marriages is explored again. The women in this story are dominated by their husbands. They are forced to complete arduous and bland housework…

“Nearly killed myself”(35). Known for her dramatic stories, Shirley Jackson is a woman of simplicity and mystery. “Jackson was a master of the gothic horror tale,” said the author of “Shirley Jackson” (“Shirley Jackson”). Her stories are explosive and hint at the pressure that there is in society to conform to the twisted, perverted norms. They also comment on the differences between the social classes, through dialogue, as well as society treating life as if it is disposable. Jackson also uses…

and with many splinters. It is also said that the current box is is made with parts of the box that started the tradition. “Mr. Summers began talking again about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done.” (Jackson 250). This shows that even though the town is capable of making a new box, they are unwilling to do so because it has “always been that way”, much like the lottery itself. Many other surrounding towns have retired the lottery tradition…

Based on the story "A & P" it is a clear example to the saying "Men will go to extreme measures to impress a women". As seen here in the story "A & P" written by John Updike.the first character goes by the name Sammy, he is a cashier at a supermarket("A & P"), Sammy displays a classic example of a man trying to impress a woman by all means . Sammy rash decision to quit his job was a bad idea and will definitely have an adverse effect on him in the future which he didn't take the time to…

The Lottery was written in 1948, after World War II, by American author Shirley Jackson. In The Lottery, a small town gathers for what seems to be a lighthearted ceremony where someone wins “the lottery.” The ending of the story shocked readers because the winner of “the lottery” actually gets stoned to death, which is not what the readers expect to happen. Shirley Jackson wrote the story to bring attention to acts of violence that occur daily that nobody thinks about. In The Lottery, Shirley…

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is an interesting great short story filled with symbolism. This short story is based on a small village that has a “lottery” every year. This lottery has been a ritual that has been passed down ever since the village has been founded. In this short story Jackson uses “The Lottery” to help her show her readers that human nature is tainted, no matter how pure one thinks they are, or how pure their environment may seem to be. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism, imagery,…

While The Hunger Games is from the dystopian future and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is present time, both stories have one thing in common, and that is the recurring theme of blindly following old customs and traditions and the problems attached to them, whether it is the “capitol” in The Hunger Games or the villagers in The Lottery. In both cases traditions are respected and strictly followed by the people, but it is at the cost of sacrificing innocent lives in the attempts to preserve…

he had gone back to his home town to spread his father’s ashes when he got mixed up in the lottery. At first, he had no idea what the lottery was and he slowly realized while he was visiting the cemetery that a majority of the deaths in the town of New Hope occurred on the 27th of June. After the lottery took place Jason believes it is murder and while talking with Felice she says, “It's no more than someone sacrificing themselves in a war” (Sackheim 1:20:00). Smith does not understand the…

William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” are both short stories filled with traditions, death, and the need for change. Both stories highlight the tragic effects of outdated traditions that remain dominant in societies way beyond their significance or value. Both the Old South and the village in The Lottery are male dominated societies. The actions of the men in these stories is not questioned. Clearly in Emily's case, she was a victim of the dying South.…