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The Lottery” By Shirley Jackson

Analyzation encompasses the application of given criteria to a literary work to determine how efficiently that work employs the given criteria. In the analyzation of short stories, the reader uses a brief imaginative narrative unfolding a single incident and a chief character by means of a plot, the details so compresses and the whole treatment so organized, a single impression results. To expose that impression, the reader explores the workings of seven basic criteria. On particular criterion effectively supports the central idea on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. The author teaches the central idea through the actions of the protagonist in the plot through what the protagonist does or does not do. The author teaches the lesson, the author’s idea, and the universal in two ways. Author’s idea expresses the author’s beliefs or opinions on a particular subject; the author may use a universal truth. A universal truth presents an idea assumed true by the masses worldwide that teaches a lesson based on the interpretation of the universal truth. What the reader learns throughout the story or the lesson consists of two categories, general and specific. General lessons teach the overall lesson in the story; usually a universal truth that speaks of qualities like greed, revenge, love, fear, discrimination, and ignorance. “Because primitive peoples meshed much more successfully with the world around them, they became far more sensitive to its needs and rhythms; they made certain that the lessons of passage were powerful and certain to have the desired effect. The rituals were intense, sometimes painful and terrifying. They were assuredly unforgettable.” The Grims Brothers, Poor Richard’s Almanac, and Aesop’s Fables capture these ceremonies and lessons. The smaller lesson or specific lessons earned through the development of the plot and narrative reach the reader on an individual level from the actions or thoughts of any of the characters. These “little lessons” within the general lesson teach the reader the main lesson of the story. “Despite the timelessness of fables, who remembers the lessons of the past? “ The Fox and the Grapes” teaches us about envy, “The Lion and the Mouse’s” message of compassion. Who knows about “Little Red Riding Hood”’s message, the passage from girl- to womanhood. We need to be able to point to someone else’s story and say, ‘Ah, yes, I know that feeling. I identify.’ These specific lessons speak of personal truths even though cloaked in symbols.” In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the villagers follow tradition without even knowing why the tradition exists. This blind following of the past traditions leads the reader to discover a universal truth. “Tradition is the guide of the ignorant.” In paragraph thirty-two, lines seven and eight, Old Man Warner states,”’ There’s always been a lottery’ he said petulantly.” In this statement, the reader sees the most ignorant of all excuses for doing anything. This, however, seems normal for the community. In paragraph six, lines three through nine, the reader discovers ‘”That much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded, Mr. Summers had been successful in having slips of paper substituted for the chips of wood that had been used for generations.’” While reading, the reader starts to understand the lottery tradition from which many rules and regulations disappeared for convenience reasons. This leads the reader to believe that the villagers do not truly understand the origins of the lottery. In paragraph twenty-nine, lines one through three, Mrs. Jackson states ‘”The people had done the lottery so many times that they only half listed to the directions…’” In this passage, the reader learns through the nonchalantness of the villager’s actions that an important event does not gander much attention. In paragraph thirty-one lines one through fourteen” Old Man Warner snorted. ‘Pack of crazy fools,’ he said. ‘Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next thing you know, they’ll be wanting to go back inside caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while. Used to be a say saying about ‘Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.’ First thing you know, we’s all be eating chicken weed and acorns.”’ In this passage, the reader finally understands that even though the world changed around the village, this ignorance prevents innocent villagers from living a full and rewarding life. Toward the end of the story in paragraph seventy-nine, lines one through three, the child of Mrs. Hutchinson handed rocks starts the reinforcement of the lottery. “’The children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles.”’ By handing the baby of the village a few pebbles to throw at Mrs. Hutchinson, the villagers start the idea at a young age. The major problem with this, Davy Hutchinson does not realize that mother will not tuck the child in bed tonight.
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The Mayor Of Casterbridge's Setting By Thomas Hardy

Henchard's fate was strongly rooted in his character. He has several character flaws that contributed to the break down of every relationship he had. At the beginning of the novel it is his temper that starts the whole story off. At the fair in Weydon - Priors, he becomes angry with his wife while he is drunk. Henchard tries to sell her because he believes that it is Susan's and the child's fault that he is not successful. This is evidently not the first time. He finds an interested man who pays five pounds and five shillings for her. This of course is the beginning of the break down of his family life and his role as a father. Henchard is upset when he sobers up the next morning. There are other instance where Henchard's temper destroys his relationships. The next episode in the story is when Farfrae's idea for the fair works better than his own. In a fit of jealous rage, Henchard fires his good friend. This alienates Farfrae from both Henchard and Elizabeth-Jane. It also distances Henchard from Elizabeth-Jane and Farfrae. His temper has now caused a fault in his business and his family. Farfrae sets up a business in competition with him. Henchard also denies Farfrae the right to court his daughter. This of course pushes Elizabeth-Jane farther from her father. In Henchard's anger and other habits there is an element of control. That is lack of control. Henchard, it seems, likes his drink. In the beginning of the story he asks for some liquor to be added to his furmity. Once drunk, he losses control and becomes angry. This of course leads to the family break up. In the morning, he swears, While he is sober for those years, he is very prosperous. Henchard becomes a wealthy corn merchant as well as the Mayor of Casterbridge. However, when the twenty-one years are over he starts drinking again. Prior to this because of his temper and the such, he is a ruined man. When he takes up drinking again it just hastens the downward spiral he is on. He is an embarrassment to himself and all that know him. This quote is from the visitation of the Royal Personage. Farfrae had set up a reception for the royal guest. Henchard's presence at the arrival of the guest was denied by the council. So, he decided, After this incident Lucetta refused to acknowledge who he was or that he was ever her husband's patron. Through the lack of control and anger, Henchard has a vague idea of what is right and wrong. He is very hard on himself. Henchard can also be very stern with others. It is the self punishment, however, that most affects his fate. When he sobered up after selling Susan, he knew what he had done, was wrong. That is why he took that oath with the curse at the end of it, . He also wanders the country side in search of the family he has destroyed. If he had not of taken that oath, he probably would still be a lowly hay trusser. At the end of the story, when Henchard dies, he dies under the care of Abel Whittle. Even in death he could not escape himself, He punishes himself after death by what he asks for in his will. In his will he asks that: his daughter not be told of his passing; he not be buried in consecrated ground; no one be asked to toll the bell; nobody see his dead body; there be no mourners at his funeral; no flowers be planted at his grave; and that no one remember him. He thought he had a lot of sins to pay for when he asked all this. Hardy has taken common character traits and used them to determine the character's fate. Through the use of his characters, Hardy shows how someone can determine their own fate. Even though in most cases they don't know it.

Word Count: 668

 

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