The Lottery Essay

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The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (1948)
After reading and watching The Lottery, a short story by Shirley Jackson (Jackson) and a YouTube video directed by Augustine Kennedy (Kennedy), I wonder if society needs to revisit a tradition’s origin and objectives before we continue them. In this intriguing story about a small village and its behavior, is an account of one year’s lottery, its purpose, and its winner.
As the author and director relate the story, we learn that the lottery continues because it is tradition. Forgotten are the original formalities, history, objects, reasons, and symbols. Today (i.e., 1948), the lottery is a simple drawing with little fanfare. A winner’s family, including her young son, gives the winner the prize. Unlike …show more content…

While Jackson’s writing (as I read) imbues a sense of drama, Kennedy’s video adds the sense of anticipation permeated with apprehension and obligation. Both Jackson and Kennedy invite me to believe the lottery is like Power Ball®. However, the unexpected twist in the ending has more impact, offense, and surprise in the black and white video than the written story. Now I understand that traditions need review before continuance.
What is her claim?
• Tradition, with its rituals, can continue mindlessly, regardless of reality. o For the village people, the lottery is something to …show more content…

For example, I did not feel the people flowing towards the town square, as in a community unified towards a goal.
• For me, the short story did not build up suspense through reading the conversations.
• In 1948, I might feel differently, as there was no video for comparison.
What medium was more effective? Why?
• The video o The video is the most effective. o The black and white film choice gave the impression of a calm day, but one filled with anticipation. Without color, I focused on the acting and dialogue. o There was just enough dramatic music for me to feel the eeriness of people longing for the lottery; like betting on a horse and longing for the race to start. o The repetitious words “the lottery” were almost a reverent chant; a mechanical worshipping of the event. The people expressed “The lottery” as if inviolable. o The video drew me through the story with continuous expectations (sometime realized, sometimes not.) o My unanswered questions are why can the lottery hold the village hostage and will the village recognize the lottery as immoral. This makes me want a sequel.
• The short story o The short story is not ineffective, but for me, the story is flat in this

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