Tradition in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Essay

Tradition in â€Å"The Lottery† There are many things that people do every day without questioning why they do them. These are our habits and traditions, and though for the most part they are unimportant they can be a crucial part of our culture and our interactions with each other. Sometimes there are traditions that can cause harm or are morally unacceptable. What should be done in this case? Edmund Burke, a nineteenth century politician and author, argues that it is best to stick with tradition rather than causing dramatic changes in people’s behavior. This is a key component in his argument against the French Revolution in his essay â€Å"Reflections on the Revolution in France.† In this essay he argues that the revolution will only lead the†¦show more content†¦Families stand together and there is quiet conversation between friends. Mr. Summers, who runs the lottery, arrives with a black box. The original box was lost many years ago, even before Old Man Warner, the oldest person in the village, can remember. Each year Mr. Summers suggests that they make a new box, but no one is willing to go against tradition. The people were willing to use slips of paper instead of woodchips as markers, as the village had grown too large for the wood chips to fit in the box. A list of all the families and households in the village is made, and several matters of who will draw for each family are decided. Mr. Summers is sworn in as the official of the lottery in a specific ceremony. Some people remember that there used to be a song and salute as part of the ceremony, but these are no longer performed. Tessie Hutchinson arrives in the square late because she has forgotten what day it was. She joins her husband and children before the lottery can begin. Mr. Summers explains the lottery ’s rules: each family will be called up to the box and draw a slip of paper. One of the villagers tells Old Man Warner that the people of a nearby village are thinking about ending the lottery. Old Man Warner laughs at the idea. He believes that giving up the lottery would cause nothing but trouble, and a loss of civilized behavior. A woman responds that some places have already given up the lottery. Everyone finishes drawing, and eachShow MoreRelatedTradition in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson1774 Words   |  8 PagesAmerica’s most beloved short stories, â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson, leaves readers with excitement and perhaps a small sense of doubt. Doubt could be an aspect of the reader’s mind due to the gory fact of the cultural tradition in the small farming town of the story. Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† displays the theme of unwavering ritualistic tradition and the use of symbolism throughout the story. This mean s the village is unable to move past their tradition while symbolism is shown through character’sRead MoreTradition in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay1229 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tradition; it is the back bone of every culture and civilization. It is what keeps the beliefs, philosophies, and activities of societies alive, to be passed down from generation to generation. However not all traditions are practiced with pure intentions.   Some activities become so routine, people don’t know a life outside of them. Societies become so accustomed to â€Å"tradition† that they will participate in pastimes without   questioning the ethics or morals of the situation. UltimatelyRead MoreIgnornance of Tradition in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson1014 Words   |  5 Pages Tradition, defined as the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. (Tradition) Tradition is a core trait of humanity, from the time before recorded history to present, humanity has followed traditions or customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. More often than not communities all over the world blindly follow these practices with little regard to who startedRead MoreThe Meaning of a Tradition in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson574 Words   |  2 PagesShirley Jackson wrote many books in her life, but she was well known by people for her story â€Å"The Lottery† (Hicks). â€Å"The Lottery† was published on June 28, 1948, in the New Yorker magazine (Schilb). The story sets in the morning of June 27th in a small town. The townspeople gather in the square to conduct their annual tradition, the Lottery. The winner of the lottery will stoned to death by the society. Although there is no main character in the story, the story develops within other important elementsRead MoreTraditions in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Essay576 Words   |  3 PagesThesis: After a long period of time passes people forget the true meaning of their traditions by slowly disregarding as the years pass. I. The first part of the traditional ritual that is changed is the chips of wood. A. Chips of wood, Mr. Summers had argued, had been all very well when the village was tiny... B. Its perceived as though there is no regard to how the ancestors of this village put on the lottery. II. The second part of the traditional ritual that is changed is the recitalRead MoreTraditions in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Essay464 Words   |  2 Pages Shirley Jacksons story, The Lottery is about a group of towns people who meet every year on the 27th of June. On this day a stoning takes place, as it washes away the sins of everyone that lived in the village. However, should the tradition of the stoning be changed when it becomes your time? On this day every year the people of the village began to gather in the square, around ten oclock (Jackson) to prepare for the stoning. This event would take about two hours as there wereRead MoreEssay on â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson: A Brutal Tradition608 Words   |  3 Pagesthe oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people,† capturing the main message of the short story â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson, perfectly, because of the themes of peer pressure and tradition present throughout the story. In this story, the people of a small village gather for their annual tradition, a lottery, in which one person is picked at random out of a box containing each of the villagers’ names. The village, which is not specifically named, seemsRead MoreTradition Stays Put in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson1053 Words   |  4 PagesTradition Stays Put Easily regarded as one of America’s most beloved short stories, â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson, leaves readers with excitement and perhaps a small sense of doubt. Doubt could be an aspect of the reader’s mind due to the gory fact of the cultural tradition in the small farming town of the story. Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† displays the theme of unwavering ritualistic tradition and symbolism. This means the village is unable to move past their tradition while symbolismRead More Theme of Tradition in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe Lottery by Shirley Jackson Americans day after day live much of their lives following time-honored traditions that are passed down from one generation to another. From simple everyday cooking and raising children, to holidays and other family rituals, tradition plays a significant role on how they go by there everyday lives. In Shirley Jacksons short story, The Lottery, the citizens of a small farming town follow one such tradition. A point is made regarding human nature in relationRead MoreTraditions in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner1176 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the world there have been bazaar rituals or traditions that don’t usually happen in the United States. To us it may seem wrong and cruel but to those countries seems to be the right thing to do because that is what they believe in. Some countries do their rituals or traditions like every single year. Most of them are somewhat similar or different but still have the same aspect. There are many people who still follow these traditions or try to escape to another place so they can be free

A Doll’s House is a play written by Henrik Ibsen during...

A Doll’s House is a play written by Henrik Ibsen during the Victorian era that portrays the role of women at that time, not only in marriage but in society as well, the gender discrimination suffered quietly by the women and witnessed impassively by the men, and subsequently reflects on the attitude each gender has towards itself as well as towards the other gender. In this paper the following is discussed – how Nora became aware of this inequality and the oppression she faced in the course of the three Acts in the play, what gender equality really meant at that time, and how the writer integrated such messages of inequality and oppression into the play. In this play Ibsen talks about Nora Helmer’s journey of self-discovery, which led her†¦show more content†¦Nora’s lies and secrets added on to an ever-evolving description of her character. Such behaviour is exposed when she first eats macaroons and lies about it to Torvald stating that ‘she would never go against his wishes’ and that she had given him ‘her word’ for it. She had already gone against the society norm by disobeying her husband, (in the Victorian times, woman conformed to their husbands in every little way). The interaction between Nora and Torvald, especially in Act One, was not as if they were equals but rather of a loyal pet and master. Nora responds playfully to Torvald’s criticism. She is a willing participant in their dysfunctional relationship. She understands that her husband sees her as an innocent, child-like persona, and she struggles to maintain the faà §ade. But as Act One continues we start to see N ora’s diligent and witty side. With Mrs. Linde she boasts about her life with Torvald and how happy she is, but is quick to speak of her achievements when she is thought low of. Another side of Nora is portrayed in that scene, a side which even Torvald never knew of; she talks to Christine about her â€Å"saved Torvald’s life†. This gives us a better insight on Nora, regarding how she leads a double life, that she has not been ‘thoughtlessly spending money, but saving money to pay of her debt’. Upon hearing this readers no longer see a naive little girl but a woman who can take risks to save what isShow MoreRelatedA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1634 Words   |  7 Pages A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen Henrik Ibsen illustrates how self sacrifice of characters, cultivates betrayal in relationships. Characters in the novel recognize conflict, and that causes them to go against their morals. Betrayal in relationships occurs to justify their acknowledgement of conflict. Nora chooses to neglects her own safety because she does not trust her relationship with Torvald. She desires to sustain her position as a woman. Women cause a disturbance in the family dynamic, asRead More The Controversial Theme of A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen Essay1997 Words   |  8 PagesThe Controversial Theme of A Dolls House      Ã‚  Ã‚  In his play, A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsen depicts a female protagonist, Nora Helmer, who dares to defy her husband and forsake her duty as a wife and mother to seek out her individuality. A Dolls House challenges the patriarchal view held by most people at the time that a womans place was in the home. Many women could relate to Noras situation. Like Nora, they felt trapped by their husbands and their fathers; however, they believed that theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Harold Pinter s The Room 9709 Words   |  39 PagesINTRODUCTION I’m convinced that what happens in my plays could happen anywhere, at any time, in any place, although the events may seem unfamiliar at first glance. If you press me for a definition, I’d say that what goes in my plays is realistic, but what I’m doing is not realism† (Pinter, Harold Pinter: Plays, 2 ix) Widely acknowledged as one of the great post-war generation dramatists, Harold Pinter’s fame rests on not only his popular dramas but also on his political activism which is rooted in

Family Power Debate Free Essays

Affirmative for egalitarian sharing of the family power base. The family has consensus over who has the ultimate say on the day to day decisions. Present day family has very complex type of structure which affects the powerbase determination. We will write a custom essay sample on Family Power Debate or any similar topic only for you Order Now A family consisting of a mother (female), father (male), and a child or two will have a very different power base than a family consisting of two same gender parents or a family that has a single parent. Age of the parents and the children also contributes toward power base; when the children are very young, the parents have the power and when the children grow they have their own control. Different cultures have varied family structure based on what they have learned from their parents and grandparents. Socioeconomic status and educational level also contributes to the powerbase in a family. Even though all these factors contribute toward the powerbase, it makes a difference, especially in regard to health care management and family wellness. An adult family member remains to be the traditional base of power in several families which the whole family must accept to make the authority effective. For example, according to Hoffman as cited by Friedman et al (2003), in a traditional nuclear family the husband still maintains more decision-making power over his wife and that â€Å"parents almost always have more power than children † (p. 299). The following statement challenges that this idea is not the healthiest balance in today’s diverse family environment. Affirmative Statement I propose that an egalitarian sharing of power in today’s environment will create healthier family functioning. â€Å"No change in the American Family is mentioned more often than the gradual shift from one-sided male authority to the sharing of family power by the husband and wife. Declining sex role traditionalism, like many social changes, correlates with increasing complexity and conflict in family decision making† (Friedman, 2003). It is often hard in today’s time to get two individuals to agree to the same values. With the economy the way it is currently it takes two incomes to keep a family a float. With two incomes needed this often times leads to the husband and wife sharing the power; in other words and egalitarian system of  power sharing. This sharing of power results from the husband and wife working different hours to provide care for the children at all times. Another reason this sharing of power occurs is that the females in today’s society want to feel equal in their relationships, fueling the need for recognition and equal sharing of power in a family structure. An advantage to this view is that structure must be carefully assessed and recognized prior to distinguishing powerbase. Family function –the intimate, interactive and interdependent sharing of values, decisions, and commitment over time† (Kaakinen, Gedaly-Duff, Coehlo, Harmon-Hanson, 2010, p. 22) determines structure and therefore establishes powerbase. In the healthy family, with an equal powerbase is not only perception but a reflection of these values and consideration of leadership and justice. In a family whose perceptions are based on bullying, domineering leadership or abuse, powerbase is reflected by actions committed in fear of punishment and retribution. The opposite is true when the structure of the power is based on equal sharing of decisions and actions as a result of this family interaction structure. This view considers the positive or negative family interactions (structure) to affect the behavior of family members and that powerbase derives recognition from these interactions. What may be considered as perception of the power-holder(s) in family is actually the result of the positive or negative family behavior in response to structure. In a study done by Schoppe, Mangelsdorf, Frosch, (2001), powerbase is determined by family structure. Solution Powerbase can connote failed impressions as well. Outward assessment of inward mutual support processes are the family system as it exists and as it functions. Changes in what is occurring are changes in support processes as well as actual changes in how individuals exist and experience. Powerbase within the family in a healthy or non-healthy environment is determined by family structure, if the powerbase is shared equally by the adults a better example will be demonstrated and mimicked by the children ( Kaakinen, 2012). How to cite Family Power Debate, Essays

Signing A Very Good Habit Essay Example For Students

Signing A Very Good Habit Essay I am the go-to-girl for lyrics and I always know the unknown hit-in-the-making. Why am I such a music consieur? I am constantly singing along to any new song I hear. I really enjoy singing but I am not Mariah Carey. Music has a great impact on my life. It sparks my creativity, helps me relax and lightens any dull moment in my day I may encounter. This is an activity that I enjoy doing but I am definitely not an expert. Singing isn’t a static activity. It is full of emotion and imagery. I definitely agree with the idea of calling singers artists. It takes a lot to create the right message, laced delicately with the correct lyrics. But it takes the right person to make a song, the song it is. It says a lot about a singer who has inspired something inspired by them. Just recently, a New Zealand songstress, Kimbra, had an art show dedicated to her. Kimbra is extremely expressive and passionate. She leaves an everlasting impression on many people. I feel inspired by singers. As I sing along to their songs I can feel what they are saying. I start to see so many things I can create. I have created paintings from the song, ‘This is Love’. I can see the painting simply by listening to a song. I revamped my room just by listening to the song, ‘New Soul’. I also can create new dances by listening to songs for the first time. This comes in handy for my coaching job. I can feel the rhythm and soul of the song. As I listen to music and sing along it challenges me to think outside the box and create something never seen before. Singing helps spark my creativity. Its nice to come home and unwind to some music. I love listening to music in my car after a long day at work. I will play different types of music depending on what happened during my shift. I may have to ‘Shake it Off’ and embrace my inner Taylor Swift, occasionally if I surpass my work expectation I’ll embrace my inner Sasha Fierce. I have to listen to music, it is a must. Music is always playing around me. As clichà © as it sounds, music helps me get back to me. Singing along to songs helps me clear my mind. I forget everything. I can listen to certain songs that relate to what I’m going through and get through it. I can listen to catchy but honest songs and laugh about anything that happen throughout the day I wasn’t fond of. Singing releases stresses of the day Singing is a ‘bad’ good habit I have. I can’t sing like a pop star, but it helps me be who I am. As mentioned earlier, I do not sing like Mariah Carey, or the new pop queen Ariana Grande. Now I’m not one to belt out a song and hit the high notes, but I will occasionally rap. I honestly don’t know how I can catch on to the lightning fast lyrics but I do. I find it challenging and I love a challenge. I cannot rap like Eminem but I can catch on to Nicki Minaj. Just listening to me attempt to sing is quite a scene. My favorite thing to do is sing randomly when someone I know is not having a spectacular day. I start singing along to a song loud enough for myself to her. When they are super quiet I get louder and louder and then I start to dance in front of them. My goal is to make them laugh at the scene I am creating. I cannot stand it when someone is quiet and not them self. I have to enlighten any dull moment I encounter. Singing helps me stay creative. It challenges me to think out of the box and create something new. I am inspired by many songs. Listening to music and singing along to songs helps me unwind and get myself back on track. I have accepted the fact that I can’t sing but I am accepting of what I receive from this habit of mine.