Winning the lottery is something practically everyone dreams of. Similarly, the novel, The Pearl, by John Steinbeck, and the articles “Does Money Equal Happiness?” by Jennifer Davidson and “Winning the Lottery: Does it Guarantee Happiness?” by Elizabeth Landau, all show what happens to people when they become wealthy. With the collection of many circumstances, it has become clear that money cannot buy happiness, because instead, it causes a person to fear, neglect their religion, and be filled with misfortune. In the novel by John Steinbeck, Kino finds “The Pearl of the World”, but it soon causes him to worry and fear that everyone is out to get him. For example, one situation that illustrates this was when, “Juana, sitting by the firehole, …show more content…
Some of these include, “Among his personal tragedies since then, his granddaughter and daughter have both dies, and he has allegedly been robbed several times. Another case is Abraham Shakespeare of Florida, who was slain after winning a $31 million lottery prize” (Landau para. 5). These situations give examples of the misfortune that was caused after obtaining a large amount of money. The first person had gotten robbed, and the lottery winner was killed. The first lottery winner was already facing prior family problems, and instead of the money giving him a little bit of happiness, it gave him the trouble of multiple robberies. Furthermore, the second winner had his happiness taken away from him, because he was killed, and he was given no chance to enjoy his life with money. For these reasons, not only did money cause people misfortune, but it also took away their happiness. In contrast, there were still some cases in which these money winners were able to have a happy and comfortable life, and some of these people were also able to use their money for a good cause. On the other hand, there were still more problems caused by money that good results. In conclusion, money had caused many people misfortune, which had ultimately taken away any happiness that they had in their
Set during the colonial era in Mexico, the story reveals the subjugation that the natives had to face and it shows the protagonist’s, Kino’s, attempt to go against the norms of the society and ask for something that was frankly unrealistic. This part of the story is related to the creative lens because Kino tried very hard to secure a future for his family but because the circumstances were not in his favor, he failed. It wasn’t socially accepted to ask for an education or a court marriage at that time for the natives because a native cannot desire to have what the colonists have. In this part of the story, the author uses the literary element of conflict to convey the message that even though Kino had the means to secure a future for himself, because he is a native and because he is aspiring to go against the social norms, he will eventually fail. As a result, it is clearly proven in The Pearl that humans will try to achieve something farfetched and will be unsuccessful in doing
We can transform our life by altering our thinking process, and the stories by Shirley Jackson and Chris Abani emphasize on changing the thought. Shirley Jackson’s story, “The Lottery”, conveys a great ironic tradition of a certain American community at some time in history, probably not that old. Similarly, “The Lottery” by Chris Abani also explores a similar tragic story about a loss of a life, and presents the life and survival as a lottery, which is never certain. In these regards, both these stories express a common theme of a traditional belief and a tragic end of a life but in a very contrasting fashion and settings.
The first time I read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, I thought it would be about someone in a desperate situation who wins a large amount of money. However, after reading the story I was shocked and disgusted like millions of other readers because of what the “lottery” was all about. After my shock wore off I thought about why the author had chosen to be so cynical. It occurred to me that she needed to shock people into changing for the better. She believed that the biggest problem in her society were the people who would live their lives without thinking about changing themselves for the better. She stresses the importance of questioning the validity of everything as opposed to conforming blindly to the majority.
Typically, when someone thinks of a lottery they think of something positive and exciting but contrary to this idea in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, the connotation has an entirely different meaning. As the story begins, readers lean towards the belief that the town in which Jackson depicts is filled with happiness and joy. “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (Jackson 247) We soon realize that this notion is far from the truth. As the townspeople gather in the square for the annual lottery, which sole purpose is to stone someone to death by randomly pulling a paper out of a black box with a black dot on it, it is learned
Did you know that Merle and Patricia Butler from Red Bud, Illinois and three teachers from Baltimore Maryland won the biggest lottery in American history at $656 million dollars? That means every person acquired $218.6 million dollars each from the lottery (Carlyle). Unfortunately, the citizens of Shirley Jacksons’ fantasy short story “The Lottery” were not imbursed with money, but were stoned to death by their peers. “The Lottery” is a lottery of death in which the town uses to keep the population down (Voth). The story consist of many subjects to analyze which include: irony, imagery, and pathos.
people treasure more than anything. The Lottery shows the protectiveness of pride but in an
In today’s society we perceive the lottery as being a great fortune brought down upon you by Lady Luck. It is a serendipitous event, even if the person has done nothing to earn it. One would never see the lottery as an unfortunate occasion that occurred in your life because it is supposed to bring prosperity into your life. Also, one would not dare to think that winning the lottery would bring such repercussions as injury or death. In the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the author could have used Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson as the town’s scapegoat due to their reluctance to change traditions, her horrible work ethic, and minority status as a woman.
Happiness is a feeling adults experience when they receive a gift, win something, and various other reasons, but does money buy this happiness everyone experiences? Don Peck and Ross Douthat claim money does buy happiness, but only to a point in their article which originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly (252). Throughout their article, reasons on why money can sometimes buy happiness are explained. While some of the reasons given are effective, not all are satisfying answers for adults working diligently to make a living. Money is a part of everyone’s life, yet it is not always the cause of happiness.
The desire to obtain additional wealth and worldly possessions is a nature that is sinful and demonstrates greed. It is a necessity to take care of the needs of one's family, but it is purely selfish to want more. Greed is not a modern sin, it has been around since the beginning of mankind. God provided Adam and Eve with every element that they needed to prosper, but they desired the one thing that was deemed off-limits; the fruit from the tree (Genesis 1, English Standard Version). This greed served no greater purpose, but instead began the fall of mankind. The townspeople in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Hester in "The Rocking Horse Winner", by D.H. Lawrence, are prime examples of people who are not content with the blessings that they
Not everything is always has it seems. Even when everything looks nice and healthy and happy there could be something being it all that could be dark and brutal even if it's in plain sight. This could be found in any person, place or thing. This concept is true in Shirley Jackson’s short ‘The Lottery’. The story is about a nice town with healthy growing crops and seemingly normal people. On June 27th on a sunny warm day everybody gathers for a lottery held every year. The head of the families choose a card from a small, old black box and if they get a marked one the whole family must choose another. When the mother of the choose family is picked she screams about unfair it is while the whole town picks rocks from a pile the children gather.
Readers can tell from the statement that many of the people Kino encounters after finding the pearl become bitter “friends”. At this point, Kino and Juana begin to realize that the pearl is bringing bad luck upon them. They are taken advantage of by the doctor and he decides to visit them after knowing they have the pearl. “This pearl is like a sin”(56). Juana begins to realize the pearl is bringing them bad luck, but Kino still trusts that it’s a gift. Readers can also assume that people are trying to take the pearl when Kino is suddenly attacked during the night. “Blood oozed down from his scalp and there was a long…”(56). Readers can now confirm that the pearl has changed and now represents evil. The pearl also begins to destroy Kino and Juana’s relationship as they have different opinions on what to do with the pearl. After Kino wakes up and follows Juana when she wakes up and walks out, readers know he has started to lose full trust in her. “He rolled up to his feet and followed her silently as she had gone” (58). Through the symbolism of the pearl and what it brings upon Kino and Juana, the author emphasizes how the pearl is not what it first appears to be, which was
What’s the significance of the Lottery? The lottery is a method to raise funds by selling million of tickets, and giving the prize to the holder who had the random numbers, in other words is a raffle. The lottery started earlier than the 70’s. However, a King from England in the sixteen century invented the lottery to grant finance to a town in Virginia. Winning the lottery is not simple; although, I may enclose an attempt to win the lotto for the reason that I’m an optimism woman. If I ever be the victor of the lotto I’ll lend a hand to my family, and the world.
Foremost, Steinbeck portrays Kino’s almost perfect family in the village prior to the discovery of the “Pearl of the World” by appealing to the senses. In the opening of the story Kino is waking up to the roosters’ crowing, the sound of the pigs in their hunt for food, and the singing of the early morning birds. Their sound is a sweet chorus in harmony with the peaceful sound of the wa...
This leads to change and, eventually, downfall. Before he finds the pearl, Kino “was a well-liked man” (43), and adored by all of his neighbors. Everyone looked up to his kindness and sympathy, but when he finds the Pearl, he changes. The pearl takes control over him, and he becomes too obsessed with getting his money. He loses his many things over it: “now it is my misfortune and my life and I will keep it” (66). The neighbors even suspect, “‘what a pity it would be if the pearl should destroy them all.’” (43) For example, KIno loses his family when he tries to protect the pearl and defies the pearl buying system, and when he mishandles Juana. Loisng his canoe symbolizes thi sloss of his family. He also loses his sanity. he beats Juana and kills four men. He “‘killed a man’” (61) and joins in many fights. For greed, he turns down the salesman`s offer for the pearl and ends with nothing left. Kino has the chance to take the money offered to him and be done, but he is greedy and he wants more. Then, at the end of the book, Kino throws the pearl into the sea, and with it, all the money he could possibly gain. He also lets the doctor treat Coyotito, even with his doubts, and now can not pay him because the pearl is his payment method, which is now gone. He thinks his money is secure, and in his mind, he is a rich man. This is not necessarily true, as readers learn, and because he was so secure, he must now pay for unnecessary
“A fool and his money are soon parted” (Unknown) people who are lucky enough to become suddenly rich will only ruin their life in the long run, either by winning a lottery, having a successful investment, or just claiming an inheritance, with these categories there are same effects: bothering charities, filing for bankruptcy within next five years, and unlasting happiness.