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 Shirley Jackson (Page 1)
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VINCENNES UNIVERSITY unregistered Posts: |
posted 03-31-2002 14:43
 
Prepare a statement to add to this "World-Wide Discussion Board". Your opinions will be seen by other students from around the world. Make an original posting within this web site about your views of "The Lottery". Use terminology from this course. Copy and paste the same comment on this week's discussion board. |
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Just checking unregistered Posts: |
posted 03-31-2002 15:10
Just checking to see if this works |
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Jolinda unregistered Posts: |
posted 04-02-2002 12:18
A chilling tale that I remember from early high school. So much in fact that when I saw it on the assignments I wasn't thrilled. And yet, this is what makes the story so great, that 25 years later I still have emotion related to the story. As disturbing as the tale is Ms. Jackson truly leads the reader to the discovery of the truth beyond fact. Using the four basic elements of a story; atmosphere, characterization, plot, and theme, and a great deal of symbolism, we are lead to the ugly realization that society does terrible thing in the guise of tradition. We may not be killing in the physical sense, but with evil thought, deed, and intention people are "stoned" daily. She is a remarkable writer with frightening insight into the ugliness of humankind. |
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mjardin Officer Posts: 1 |
posted 04-03-2002 10:31
 
I liked this story and, in the way a good short story should, I thought about it often after reading it. I even told it to a few people. It made me reflect on my own selfishness in relation to the society around me. The lottery, a short story about a small town and a long-standing tradition, gives us a universal look at how inhumane people can sometimes be. An immediate atmosphere is created in the first paragraph that it is a nice sunny day. There is also information on the long-standing tradition of the lottery and the smallness of this town. Then the characters are introduced. The characters are first presented in groups. First come the children with their talk of school, then the men of the town talking of work and politics, then the wives who are trading bits of gossip. They appear to be common small town people cheerfully gathering for a community event. As the plot continues along with the gathering of the people, the setting up of the box, the swearing in of Mr. Summers, the atmosphere begins to change. The crowd is hesitant and tension is beginning to show. Individual characters are presented. Good natured Tessie Hutchinson represents a typical good housewife, Mr. and Mrs. Adams represent the younger generation and the possibility of change, Old Man Warner the elder generation and resistance to change. As the lottery continues Mrs. Hutchinson mood and manner swiftly changes as she realizes that she has won the lottery! The theme of the story begins with a cheerful crowd then tension builds as the lottery is played out. Then when each individual (with the exception of Tessie) realizes that they did not win the lottery, they are more than cheerful to stone one of their fellow citizens to death glad in the fact that it isn’t them. Tessie herself started out with these same emotions until she finds that she has won the lottery and then she represents the horror and unfairness at the situation. This theme is often true in life. People tend to be selfish and self-centered in thinking that bad things won’t happen to them and we often have the feeling (although we don’t admit it out loud) that “I’m glad it’s not me”. And some of us stand back and watch as unpleasant things happen rather than using the effort to try and change them. melissa Hardin |
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Morgan Jones unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-03-2002 13:43
I remember reading this story in Junior high school. I didnt like it then, but I have a better understanding of her, as well as her writing now, so it makes the topic more acceptable. Shirley Jackson was a very influential writer. She was a very dedicated writer. The thing I like most about this story is that you really dont know exactly what the lottery is until the end of the story. You have the impression that it is someting bad, but at the end you find out exactly what is going on. Morgan Jones |
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pcissell unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-04-2002 22:56
The Lottery is a powerfully evocative story. Ironically it gets it’s impact largely from the author’s portrayal of the characters actions and the process of the lottery as completely common and ordinary. The treatment of the black box seemed symbolic of the way the townspeople’s continue the lottery without examining the reason or purpose. The black box is neglected and ignored and although it is always “there”, its existence is essentially ignored until the one day of the year that they are forced to drag it out again. No one wants to do anything to repair or replace the box. In much the same way they ignore and avoid thinking about the purpose and consequence of the lottery until the one day of the year that they must participate in it. Ms. Jackson’s story gives us many things to think about in relation to human psychology. It seems we are so easily lead, and as long as the consequences don’t affect us directly we are more than happy to ignore any manner of injustice. The lottery itself can easily be seen as an analogy for our prejudices and bigotries. At the end of the story, Ms. Jackson demonstrates how easily we perpetuate prejudice and bigotry through our children when “someone” hands little Dave some pebbles to throw. |
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shall unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-06-2002 15:28
The lottery is a very twisted story. The name in today's society has the connotation of something good or extremely exciting happening. However you get the impression early on in the story of suspence or something exactly the opposite happening. Jackson creates a sense of dramatic atmosphere by drawing out all the little events that lead up to the actual lottery. She vividly describes the black box and the neglect of upkeep or lack of attention it has gotten over the years. As if it were a taboo, no one wants anything to do with it unless they have to. The climate gives one a sense of impending doom and is heightened by the fact that everyone was expected to show, as if this were mandated. If this were a good thing about to take place, normally you would not be concerned with everyone showing up-the less people the greater chance of winning. However if it is a bad thing, then with everyone present, your chance of being chosen lessons. This story shows humanity in its cruelest and ugliest form. Under the pretext or guise of tradition evil is allowed to continue to satiate our own guilt and sins. |
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Jama Tapp unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-06-2002 22:21
"The Lottery" is a frightening short story and having not read it before, it left me in awe at the ending. There was much irony and foreshadowing throughout the story, and the further into it, the more you get a disturbing feeling of wonder of what this "lottery" is indeed about. Shirley Jackson was able to create a very disturbing, powerful ending that screamed for a reader's participation. I didn't particularly care for the story because of its horrific conclusion, but I think Ms. Jackson undoubtedly proves herself a great writer. |
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CandiceD Officer Posts: 1 |
posted 04-08-2002 22:28
"The Lottery" was a very interesting short story, that I had never read until now. I was expecting the end to be the total opposite of what it actually was. In the beginning she lead you to believe it was going to be something you wanted to win, I figured someone would win money, since thats what the lottery consists of today. I would have never guessed that the winner would actually be the loser, until the very end. It seemed to have a tragic rhythm to it. |
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eboger unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-10-2002 22:57
When I began reading this story, I felt like “The Lottery was going to be a good thing. I really didn’t decide quickly that the villagers were a little reluctant to participate. It did seem odd that everyone was making sure everyone was there and accounted for. I didn’t understand the significance of the husband being the one to draw except that it was tradition. The old man that kept complaining about the loss of tradition and the lottery not being staged the way it used to, either was never the recipient of the black mark or he had gotten it before and he wanted everyone to take their licks just as he did. We really didn’t know during the drawing that no one really wanted to win until the lady began to complain about the drawing. She became the scapegoat of the situation where someone needed to pay, no matter what. How often do we see this very thing happen in real life everyday. It is weird how you can read something like this and you don’t realize how true it really is and how it can open your eyes to the cruel way of human nature. Not everyone has horrible intentions and wants harm to come to others, but human instinct tells us we don’t want to be on the wrong end of a loaded gun either. So, better her then me, huh? Weird story, but eye-opening truth. |
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BABA Officer Posts: 1 |
posted 04-13-2002 19:41
I first read THE LOTTERY in 7th grade. I loved it then, and was so happy to see it as part of our assignment now. I had absolutely no idea about the ending as a teenager and just loved the shocked, horrified feeling this story provoked! I think great stories can provoke many emotions--from joy to horror, and Shirley Jackson has proven what a great story teller she is. I think that I would consider this an organic narrative, as it connects each action and character as they all relate to the main event--the ending. I loved her use of literary detail. Her words are so description, it really gives a clear mind-picture of the scene Ms. Jackson wants the reader to experience. The opening sentence alone conjures up my own experiences of warm, sunny June days. The use of symbolism is there but not very obvious in the story. It was interesting to read the story as an adult, knowing what would happen at the end, and see hints of what was to come. I noted the particular emphasis on the black box. Careful attention to detail and the choice of black was an ominous clue to me that the contents within would not bring good news. Additionally, the detail of the aged boxed voiced the age of the tradition of the lottery itself. It was also a useful detail that was included regarding the security measures used for the box the night before the lottery, but prior to that little deference was paid to--sometimes folks even forgetting where it was placed. Although the story initially seems to be about a pleasant, even happy, event, there are clues as the story unfolds of the sinister event that it to takes place. Note only does the reader receive a sense of foreboding, but we begin to have a sense of the subservient relationship the women in that small town have with the men (perhaps even boys). There is heightened anxiety as townsfolk "grinned at one another humorlessly and nervously" and with people taking a piece of folded paper and holding it tightly without looking at it. Women hold their breath while their husbands' take their turn at the black box. At this point, the reader is almost screaming, "What is this all about?" I sense the dominant role of the males initially when the male children didn't listen to their mothers but listened immediately to the fathers. This is made more apparant when Mr. Dunbar is unable to attend due to a broken leg. There was discussion about Mrs. Dunbar doing it for the family, even asking if she had an older boy who could do the drawing for the. In the crowd there is a boy that draws for his mother and himself. Throughout the story women are seen either standing behind their husbands or shown weak. The formality and seriousness of the lottery is begun to be understood as the story continues to unfold. There is an official "swearing-in", and Old Man Warner speaks only of trouble if the lottery were to be discontinued. Up until this point in the story, we are only guessing that something bad is probably going to happen. Towards the end the reader sees quite an increase in anxiety with more breath holding, faces turning red, people hoping that their loved aren't chosen. Ms. Jackson carefully chose her words in order to build this sense of anticipation. I find this quite an enjoyable story. I even printed it out so my older kids and my husband could read. It was interesting to note their reactions and feelings evoked. I think I am the only person in my family that truly enjoyed it. I agree with an earlier posting that suggested that story is telling us about our society. It is telling us how we "stone" people today not physically but with our words and actions because of some illogical reason (even as illogical as human sacrifice). Sadly, this is often done in families more than with strangers. Another sign of a good story is how well it can impart a truth in reality to the reader through their work of fiction. Ms. Jackson definately tells a good story. |
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ehoward unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-19-2002 22:04
Reading the "Lottery" for the first time, I found it very disturbing. Shirley Jackson is very effective in creating an atmosphere that begins the reader with a jovial and uplifting feeling and leaves you with dark, disturbing emotions. Actually I feel that she may be too effective, which probably led to all the critical feedback that she received after its release. Nonetheless, it was a very powerful piece of literature due to the atmosphere that she set, her characterization of the people of the town, and her use of symbolic devices. |
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Rita Uebelhor unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-19-2002 22:19
Shirley Jackson's intent when writng "The Lotery" was to shock the reader into realization. She definitely accomplishes this. When I read this story I was very shocked upon reading the ending. "The Lottery" is an outstanding writng that forces the reader to contemplate the inhmanity and senselesss violence that exists in our world. Shirley Jackson used the four basic elements of a story (atmosphere, character, plot and theme) very effectivley to create this chilling tale. Through the use of these elements and profound irony and symbolisms she is able to give powerful strength to this writing and allows the reader to participate. When I first read this story I was very disturbed by the ending. Later after really thinking about all the aspects of the story I was able to greatly appreciate "The Lottery" as a very powerful writing. |
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Mitch King unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-22-2002 16:02
The story is pretty wierd and freaking. To think people would stone a person for fun with the whole family there is crazy. Jackson did a excellent job keeping the readers attention by building on what see was talking about, instead of dragging out the same topic. |
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brett seibert unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-22-2002 16:02
I read this Story when I was in middle school, and didn't like it but now when I read Shirley Jacksons The Lottery I liked it better. She does a excellent job of building the story and ending it with a twist that you don't ecpect. and after visiting her website I realized that she is a very devoted author. Someday I think I would like to read some of her other stories. |
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BTran unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-22-2002 21:56
quote: I accidentally did an original message. So, I am not sure if I need to do another, so I will. I had never read this short story before this course. I was very shock. I just did not expect the end to turn out that way. Everything seemed so jovial and happy, but at the same time, you could tell it was not exactly right. Ms. Jackson did a very good job of writing this story. |
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cskipper unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-25-2002 14:20
"The Lottery" is an amazing short story about a town (like many other towns at the time) that held a lottery once a year to choose one person that would be stoned to death. It follows the style of a short story in that at the end of the story we know a lot more about the characters than the words literally revealed. It's symbolism regarding how we just accept tradition without question, even to the point of murder, is outstanding. This is an extremely powerful way to get this message across, as she uses the characters and atmosphere to convey our "common place" way of accepting bad things that exist in our world every day. |
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Casey unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-28-2002 19:33
I as well can remeber reading this story from highschool. it brings back the memories of the class discussions that we had about a writer's vivid imagination and how she used the ploy, thee, and symbolism to support the story. it was terrifying to think that a community could use such a "lottery" to stone one of their own people. it would be wondered why someone couldn't stand up to the town's people. This would make a good sequal to the novel. |
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Brandee Haywood unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-29-2002 08:59
I liked the short story "the Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, but thought it was a little unkind. I think that Shirley Jackson has wierd sense of what is good and what is bad. I thought the story was well written and put the reader in suspense through the entire story because you did not know what they were all so afraid of. I wish that she would have explain why the stoning took place, but she made as if no one knew they just loked doing it. I believe that if she would have told why this happened the story would have been more interesting |
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Matt Allen unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 04-29-2002 15:54
While I was in High School I had to read this story at the time I didn't find it very interesting. Even now I found it a little long. Shirley did do a very good job at keeping me interested because you actually didn't know what the lottery was till the end of the story. While looking at her website I realized what a devoted and talented writer she was. |
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jnash1568 unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 05-14-2002 20:13
I unlike many others on this board do not remember having to read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. I read this story for the first time today. Shirley fooled me with her generally warm atmosphere that she creates in the beginning of the story. The children playing, the adults talking and joking, and the warm summer day. I think of of a lottery as something fun. She does a fantastic job of making me believe this. Then there is a seriousness that begins to linger in the crowd as they all gather their families closely to them. You can feel the stern anticipation of the crowd. The town lottery appears normal with it's officialness. Her characterzations haven't been leading me to believe any differently. The changes in tones that she presents slowly do change my opinion that one of the characters are going to experience life changes after the winner is announced. Once the "winner" is announced and a redraw was done, which I thought was very curtious, my jaw fell to the floor when I learned that the "winner" was actually the looser by all rights. Shirley Jackson had very cleverly disguised the plot in her well written theme. I had to reread The Lottery just to see if I may have missed something. I have learned to "approach with caution" when I am reading short stories. |
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niyi unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 06-12-2002 09:29
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niyi unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 06-12-2002 10:04
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jinman unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 06-19-2002 19:53
This is the first time that I have read "The Lottery". I starting reading it expecting a happy story. The atmosphere was upbeat. The town seemed to be getting together for a fun day that happened once a year. The children were out of school and having fun and the women were chatting. The theme seemed to be that of a Fourth of July day parade. Everyone seemed wonderful until something was mentioned that a few towns had stopped the practice of holding a lottery. The atmosphere started to take a turn and I could tell that there was a tension creeping closer and closer. Suddenly I felt that I was reading an Alfred Hitchcock story or watching " The Twilight Zone." The author has a way of drawing us in to a situation and then suddenly turning on the readers----just like Hitchcock. I was totally shocked at the ending and didn’t see it coming. I thought that maybe one of their children would be taken from them. It was so well written that I didn’t want to continue reading but I couldn’t stop. |
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MJWhitton unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 06-23-2002 22:17
This is the first time I have read the Lottery. I don't remeber ever having read it in school. The story started out about a small village getting ready to have some sort of celebration. They were going to have a lottery and you were thinking they would win something. Boy, was I surprised. I was not expecting to have all of the villagers turn on the "winner" of the lotery like they did. The story contains all the basic elements; plots, characterization, theme and atmoshpere. Through symbolism we learn our society does terrible things under the guise of tradition. We see this everyday when out of the blue we decide that someone is not good enough, or they are the wrong color or sex, have money or don't have money. We call it discrimination and some traditions are done just because that is the way it is always done. Even if its not right. |
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Andrea unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-01-2002 07:26
I remember seeing "The Lottery" at school. I am thinking it was about 7th or 8th grade and feeling disturbed for days after my viewing. To stone someone to death or sacrifice them so there will be a good harvest? Maybe if we really did that today we could sling some of our prisoners out there and let the families they have assaulted in some way get some revenge of their own? No, probably not a good idea. But, I sure would not have wanted to be the lady that was stoned to death. I think some irony of the picture comes when everyone shows up in a great moood, joking around, esp. the lady who does get stoned and the next time you see her she is pleading for her life. Not a lottery that I might want to participate in. I wonder what could have been the inspiration for this story. Could Shirley Jackson have been in gym class where you split up in two groups with two captains and you pick your teamates from there? Who knows. One writer on the "Irrepressible Individual in the Works of Shirley Jackson" page states that she "discovers the existence of the grotesque in the ordinary world." I'd have to agree with that. |
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CLindsay unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-02-2002 12:35
This is a very chilling story about a town of people drawing a name out of an old box then throwing stones at this towns woman. On top of that they hand her youngest son a stone to throw. I was on the edge of my seat when reading this and the ending was so frightening, powerful, and disturbing that it made a deep impact on me. The author was able to create this story and left people thinking when this over. |
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Michelle Stanley unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-15-2002 08:27
This is the first time that I have read “The Lottery” but I have seen the movie that was made after this story. Ms. Jackson did a wonderful job on writing this story and keeping the readers attention. As the passage started off one would believe that this was going to be a happy story but before you knew it it turned into a nightmare. I had no problem visualizing the whole story. It gave me chills and stirred a lot of emotion in me. |
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Patricia Umdenstock unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-16-2002 18:36
Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is an organic narrative. The atmosphere and characters are subtly interwoven into the horrific action in the plot of the story. She uses symbolism and metaphors to make a point with a shocking theme. We often go through our merry ways in life ambivalent to the injustices found in society. We are used to them. "The Lottery" shocks us out of our apathy to recognize a raw truth. Something is not necessarily all right even if it's always been that way. Patricia Umdenstock quote: |
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CINDYKRP unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-18-2002 16:48
I read "The Lottery" as a child and saw the film in high school. Since I saw the film again last week, I noticed, (which I didn't the first time I saw it)how Tess's children smiled when they found out it wasn't them. After Tess found out it wasn't her, she wanted to do it over, which could of possibly turned out to be one of her children. While reading through the short story again,the image of the town was easy to picture in my mind. The structure and detail of the short story makes us very aware, even without seeing the film, of the people of the town. Shirley Jackson's twist toward the end of the story makes for an incredible tale. I couldn't believe it the first time I read it. For some reason, I didn't realize they were offering a body for sacrifice to ensure a good harvest till I reread it again. I just thought it was a yearly tradition. |
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Druanne Greenwell unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 07-30-2002 13:10
I just read "The Lottery" and I found it a little difficult to understand becasue of all the quotes. A few times I was confused on who was who and who was speaking. However, overall, I liked the story. It was interesting because I didn't know what you won in the lottery. There was a lot of detail leading up to the drawing, but not too much. I liked the ending, it really surprised me what happened to the woman in the end. |
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kevin andry unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-01-2002 08:11
read this story and saw the movie in high school, so I knew what it was about when I read it. It was good to reread it because it alows me to rethink life. So many people just go about their daily tasks because they always have; not knowing why they do what they do. I notice this in church more than anywhere else. One of the most depressing things I have ever heard was "well, we have always done it this way". People tend to resist change or break with tradition for any reason, they also hate to explain why they are doing their tradition, often because they don't know why. The story makes this point when the point is made that the box was worn and the paraphanelia for the lottery was long gone. Just like cattle follwing the leader to water, so did these people offer human sacrifice because it was June, and they always did this in June. Sometimes we have to look at our traditions and ask why do we do this, and if we honestly cannot find a reason for it, we have to say "to hell with it." I see the how racism is a tradition that people need to do this with. |
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Melissa unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-02-2002 20:02
This is the first time I have read "The Lottery." I found it to be quite disturbing. All the way through the story I was so interested to find out what the lottery was, if someone won something or what really happened. Then when I actually found out what happened, I was shocked. I can't believe that this actually went on. I also read that in ancient Rome that when a mother had a female child and the father didn't want it, then he was allowed to place the child outdoors without food and water until the child died. This is also very cruel. Stuff like this that went on was horrible and someone should have stood up and stopped it. |
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hkirchner3238 unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-03-2002 15:22
Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery, is incredibly shocking. The meaning behind the story concerning the pointless violence and inhumanity within society is well illustrated. It is an eye opener. I understand why people were outraged when the story was first published. Extended thought would be necessary to find the moral of this story without the aid of provided information. The Lottery is fine literature. The symbolism within and the deep underlying content will withstand being studied for years to come and will continue to provide insight into the troubles of society. I had never read any of Jackson's work before and thoroughly look forward to reading more. Heidi Kirchner |
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JNewlin unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-03-2002 19:05
I have seen the movie of THE LOTTERY a few times, and I almost let that be an excuse not to read the short story. I am glad I decided to read it though. I never thought much about how talented the author must be, but it was really different reading the story. Jackson's narrative is very real. I come from Cannelburg, IN, and it is almost like the people in the story are part of my community. She really increased my participation with her details of what each person said, and how they acted, and things like that. It is very easy to take all that for granted in a film, whereas literature really makes all that stand out. |
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Brian Schumann unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-04-2002 17:30
The Lottery was quite an interesting story. Then ending was such a surprise. But it was a tradition. They killed one member of the community to ensure a good harvest. Seems barbaric to us nowadays, but I'm sure this was meant to be shocking. |
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k.larew unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-05-2002 17:55
This was the first time I had read or hear the story "The Lottery". I found it a very chilling tale. I loved the use of ancient rituals to show our imperfections in today's society. Her ability to cause me to participate in exactly the way she wanted was very impressive. This piece will cause me to look more carefully at each piece I read from now on. |
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Melanie unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-06-2002 06:59
I have read Shirley Jacskon's "The Lottery" many times, starting in junior high and the last time last semester. The first time I read this story it was very disturbing. I was a young naive student and didn't in any way expect what was goint to happen. However, after reading it later and knowing the ending, I was able to appreciate the elements a little more. I think the most important part of this story is the use of symbolism. Everything from the black box to the woman being late to arrive is symbolic of something. I think that you have to read this story at least two or three times to pick up on everything that is inteded. |
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thoke2675 unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-16-2002 10:39
This was the first time that I read the story. The story left you guessing. The story started out being very happy and it end with the people being angry with each other. Towards the end I didn't like the story. It made for a good short story but I feel that she didn't finish the story. :confused: |
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J. Chapman unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 08-31-2002 20:02
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a very chilling short story that envokes a response from the reader in a HUGE way. The way the story builds to the climatic ending is crafted in an expert way. The characters are so believable and you feel like you see yourself or your neighbor in the crowd. The familiarity of the characters is another way in which Ms. Jackson creates tension and ease at the same time. As the reader you know something is going to happen yet the story seems to be moving along in a peaceful way. The very peacefulness of it causes you to feel the suspense of something to come. Something not good. Stories of this nature require us to look into our own lives and examine our traditions and beliefs. Something few of us are really willing to do. The style of the story is one we are familiar with now but when we think about the time in which this short story was first published I can't imagine the shock of the readers. This story is truly a classic even if it is not a story you like. |
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Amber unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 09-15-2002 20:00
This story showed the way of mankind in that day and age. The story was very misleading at first. It talked about how it was a bright, sunny day and the kids had just got out of school and were playing and gathering rocks as all young kids due. It talks about the husbands and wives gathered for the lottery. It was portrayed to be a very happy story, until the end when the little girl wins and ends up getting stoned. It was very misconceiving at first, bu the end was a real shocker. The author does have a good way of leading you on for a happy ending and then shattering your hopes for the ending |
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JT Dillingham unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-07-2002 10:14
I did not remember "The Lottery" when I first started this assignment, but shortly after I began reading and reading how the boys were stacking stones I did start to remember a little of it. It is a very well written short story. It moves very slow and has an almost relaxed atmosphere to it through most of the story. The writer does such a great job of keeping the lottery a secret then displaying the terrible actions of the villiagers at once. Shirley Jackson also does a good job of ending the story and letting your imagination continue to draw up horrific visions of the lady being stoned to death by her family and friends. This is a great story and I am glad I got to read it again after so many years. |
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cheryl unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-10-2002 09:43
Jackson did a great job with this work. I could have never guessed that ending. It kept me very interested in the reading. I thought it was very suspencefull. |
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Rhaydon unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-11-2002 17:22
Ms. Jackson’s narrative produces an air of excitement from the start. The people are scurrying in the square while the children seemingly playfully gathering rocks. The “Lottery” starts out as a celebration. This is not unlike an everyday experience. How often have you had someone smile, encourage you, and pat you on the back, while all the time there was a knife in his or her hand? Critical of the establishment from an early age, but still a loving mother, Ms. Jackson shows us human nature at its raw best. It is the will to succeed at anyone’s expense |
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Gjones unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-22-2002 22:00
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Gjones unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-22-2002 22:08
I read the lottery in Jr. HIgh. At that time I had a different idea of what it meant than I do now. I thought that the story was just about mean people that wanted to kill for the fun of it. Now I think that the story is about a group of people afraid of change. They might not really want to do the lottery but it has been done for so long that they just do it without queston. No one even remembers why they do it. They blindly follow what has been done for years as not to change what is considered normal to them. In alot of ways society is still this way. Most of us follow the leader about many things without any question. |
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ebuzard1183 unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 11-24-2002 16:03
I have read this story for a previous class, and although the story is well written and developed, it left me disturbed for days. The atmosphere begins bright and cheery, however, the tone turns dark as the story progresses and a feeling of "something not quite right" evovles. The characters are very descriptive and well developed, but their roles also evolve into something dark as the story progresses. The plot of the story revolves around the "lottery" tradition of a small town. It is not known in the beginning what exactly the lottery is, but one would never guess it would be something so utterly unbelivable because the characters discuss it and prepare for it so nonchalantly. The theme in The Lottery is that people will sometimes do things that are wrong or inappropriate, but they don't realize or recognize the wrongness until they see it from a different perception. |
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Heather H. unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 12-02-2002 10:02
When I first starting reading The Lottery, I could immediately picture the town and the town's people gathering around, the children gathering or playing with rocks (like all children do), and the adults talking and laughing among themselves. Shirley Jackson was very descriptive and detailed in her writing; however, at first she leads you to believe that The Lottery is a good thing like most lotteries are. At first I did not pick up on the fact that everyone was hesitant or weary of the black box like it was a bad thing, I just thought they wanted to stay away from it in case they did win, no one could call them a cheater. Well was I ever wrong! At the end it was very clear why no one wanted anything to do with the black box. I think this short story is a great example of how people are towards one another and how not all traditions are necessarily good traditions or even make sense for that matter. No one in the town ever questions why this tradition is still upheld, everyone just shows up like clock work. I mean do they think something worse would happen if they didn't? Probably not, because it is human nature for people to think that something bad will not happen to them - it is always someone else and as long as it is someone else, we don't care. It is funny how when it turns out to be you, you suddenly see everything in a new light and you begin to see the injustice and inhumanity of your previous actions. I think Shirley Jackson wrote an excellent short story from beginning to end! |
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adam ray unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 12-02-2002 18:08
Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery is a very chilling short story indeed. This story is composed in a way that it tells of a little towns tradition and kind of how they are not very willing to break thier tradition. I believe the theme that Shirley Jackson is trying to give in her short story of The Lottery is basically, no matter what happens to you, if I benefit from your suffering or from your loss than it is worth my effort. I think this is a theme that has been going on for years, probably for to many years indeed. I think though, in the end if I recall correctly it goes he who casts the last stone shall be punished? THe whole theme I believe was to think before you do something of this nature and ask yourself, would I want someone to do this to me? Does it really benefit me? Shirley Jackson was a great author who wrote many stories in fact. The Lottery however, was probably her most chilling story and one that will stick in you for a long time and really make you think about life and how good you have it! |
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mharper unregistered Posts: 1 |
posted 12-11-2002 20:06
Shirley Jackson has some good points. I think it is hard to follow her story named the "Lottery" because she jumps from point to point instead of explaining her self. The story is alright it has a descent ending. The part I liked the most was when she Mr. Summers did not want Mr. Hutchinson to win by that slip with the mark on it. |
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