In the short story "The Lottery" Shirley Jackson explores the unfortunate reality of a greedy, selfish, and self-centered society. The story was written in the 1940's when capitalism was gaining ground and the country seemed to embrace the dog-eat-dog mentality. Much like when Jesus was crucified for the atonement of man's sins, Tessie Hutchinson was selected to be stoned to death as a symbol of "the one" that must die for the sake of others. The town needed a scapegoat; someone to symbolize that a non-productive member of society has no place and therefore must be sacraficed. A kind of weeding-out process; the weak must die to make room for the strong, hard-working members. Mrs. Hutchinson was late for the event because she was "doing her dishes". Hardly an event that contributes to society as a whole, as far as the important people were concerned; not like a Postman or the Mayor, she was simply a housewife. The story exemplifies a heartless society who wants this process to "hurry up" so they can "get back to work". A society void of feelings toward one another, void of compassion and empathy. Tessie's husband did not step forward and offer himself as a sacrafice in her place, this is not how it was done. Even old man Warner who'd been coming to this annual even for 70 years did not feel the process should be changed, he was numb to the cruelty of it all.
They all accepted the stoning "lottery" as a way of life. Much like society today, they did not
want to get involved in making changes to eliminate this murderous freak show, as long as they weren't the ones picked, they were all ok with it.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Week 2 Eng 102 "Eveline"
After reading the short story "Eveline" the reader is left with a few burning questions, one being the validity of Eveline's lover Frank. Was Frank who he appeared to be? Did he really love Eveline, or was he just looking for a quick romance , a sailor's love affair to be forgotten after leaving port?
After evaluating the clues, this reader came to the conclusion that Frank did want Eveline to come with him to Buenos Aires, and his offer was sincere. The author used names and places in a well-thought-out symbolic way. The name Frank for example, according to the encyclopedia means free in giving; generous ,open, and honest in expressing what one thinks or feels; straightforward, candid, and free from reserve. The author described Frank as "very kind, manly and open-hearted".
Buenos Aires is another example of symbolism. The name literally means "Good Air". Eveline lived in a very dusty place. She was continually having to dust to try and keep the house clean in the dirty lanes of Ireland. The air had a fowl smell of dusty cretonne. She certainly deserved to get away to somewhere with clean air, "good air".
But what were Franks plans once they arrived in Argentina? Perhaps he had plans to work with the railroad or a construction site. There had been a construction boom from 1930-1980 and small towns were popping up everywhere. The railroads were booming with supplies being brought in for all the factories and the economy was growing. It seemed like a great place to start a family.
It is this readers' conclusion, based on the clues in the story, that Frank fully intended to take care of Eveline. He walked her home in the evenings, sang to her and took her to the movies. He spent time with her and he gave her no reason to disbelieve his intentions. In the end it was her fear, not his, that kept her from leaving Ireland to be his wife. She was afraid of change, and of exchanging the familiar for the unknown. She looked at Frank, but not with love, perhaps with scepticism, since she had maybe never really felt loved. Maybe she wasn't capable of loving. Perhaps she had gotten caught up in the thought of escape, but the reality proved to be too overwhelming, too scary, and too risky. Yes, Frank had kept his promise and had a ticket for her to board the boat with him; it was she who could not leave.
After evaluating the clues, this reader came to the conclusion that Frank did want Eveline to come with him to Buenos Aires, and his offer was sincere. The author used names and places in a well-thought-out symbolic way. The name Frank for example, according to the encyclopedia means free in giving; generous ,open, and honest in expressing what one thinks or feels; straightforward, candid, and free from reserve. The author described Frank as "very kind, manly and open-hearted".
Buenos Aires is another example of symbolism. The name literally means "Good Air". Eveline lived in a very dusty place. She was continually having to dust to try and keep the house clean in the dirty lanes of Ireland. The air had a fowl smell of dusty cretonne. She certainly deserved to get away to somewhere with clean air, "good air".
But what were Franks plans once they arrived in Argentina? Perhaps he had plans to work with the railroad or a construction site. There had been a construction boom from 1930-1980 and small towns were popping up everywhere. The railroads were booming with supplies being brought in for all the factories and the economy was growing. It seemed like a great place to start a family.
It is this readers' conclusion, based on the clues in the story, that Frank fully intended to take care of Eveline. He walked her home in the evenings, sang to her and took her to the movies. He spent time with her and he gave her no reason to disbelieve his intentions. In the end it was her fear, not his, that kept her from leaving Ireland to be his wife. She was afraid of change, and of exchanging the familiar for the unknown. She looked at Frank, but not with love, perhaps with scepticism, since she had maybe never really felt loved. Maybe she wasn't capable of loving. Perhaps she had gotten caught up in the thought of escape, but the reality proved to be too overwhelming, too scary, and too risky. Yes, Frank had kept his promise and had a ticket for her to board the boat with him; it was she who could not leave.
Monday, January 18, 2010
"Eveline"
This writing reminded me of "Angela's Ashes" a novel by Frank McCourt, an imigrant writer form Ireland, the setting is very similar. Eveline is in conflict with weather to leave her homeland and run off with her lover to Buenos Ayres, or stay and be misserable with her father and the Ireland dust!
She lived in poverty, the dirty lanes of Ireland with it's dampness and crowded living conditions. Her friends had all gone and some had died. She felt dead herself. In the end, it seems she chose the familiar old mustly life, instead of taking on the unknown feeling of a new life.
Cynthia Strader
She lived in poverty, the dirty lanes of Ireland with it's dampness and crowded living conditions. Her friends had all gone and some had died. She felt dead herself. In the end, it seems she chose the familiar old mustly life, instead of taking on the unknown feeling of a new life.
Cynthia Strader
How do I read short fiction
I never thought of reading something twice; what an interesting concept. The reading of "How Do I Read Short Fiction" instructs the reader to really digest what is being read. To think about the charactors, the plot, the very structure of what's being read. The author reveals that reading short fiction "can be difficult to understand" because it demands the writer to compress detailed thoughts and ideas. The reader is challanged to really get to know characters by what they say, to pay attention to the subplots and foils (a minor character in the story). It's almost like one should paint a picture in their mind after reading short fiction. It's not just a story, but an idea or perspective. It should challange the reader, if it's being read correctly.
Cynthia Strader
Cynthia Strader
The Story of an Hour
The final gift of freedom came to Mrs. Mallard a little too late. She had been repressed by her husband Brently, a kind but seeminly dominant figure who she felt shackled and imprisoned by. The news of his death was not the death of her, but the excitment of being "free" and able to live her life as she would, without him in it. Could she live freely? It was an overwhelming thought, and apparently more than her heart condition would allow. She herself would be the one to die, not knowing that her Brently in fact did not die on the train wreck as originally thought, but was alive and well. He escaped death, while she was ushered directly into deaths grip. She could have lived forever with the heart condition; a broken and abandoned heart, but a heart filled with joy was more than she could bear.
Cynthia Strader
Cynthia Strader
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