The Meaning Of Evil In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

When we think of the word evil, people can associate it with a variety of things because of the many meanings it has. One can think of evil as describing someone who’s abusing power while others think of an event that is morally bad or wrong. I think we can only elusively grasp the concept of evil as a whole because its meaning is shaped by our own experiences and our own judgement. So, what happens when this judgement is warped by our upbringings, society, or tradition? What about when we are told by a leader that what we do isn’t actually evil? After all, leaders and teachers and guardians are expected to use their knowledge to lead society forward on the right path. They are looked up to and as a result can manipulate peoples’ minds†¦show more content†¦Jackson also explains how over the years certain parts of the lottery had been done away with. For example, there was no longer a chant performed and a ritual salute was no longer given to each person by the person in charge of the lottery. Then the lottery begins. First Mr. Summers, who was in charge of the lottery, as well as all of the communitys other activities, begins by making sure everyone was present and if they weren’t, they had someone representing them. After that he reads off the family names and the head of families (the men) go up first, collect a paper from the black box and keep it closed until every family has collected theirs. So, one by one the men go up and collect their paper. Meanwhile this is happening some citizens talk to Old Man Warner about how some towns are talking about giving up the lottery why a select few have already quit. Old Man Warner is appalled by the mere suggestion and equates stopping the lottery with going back to living in caves. No one continues the discussion after that. When all the men have gone up, Mr. Summers instructs them to open their paper. For a moment there was silence then everyone speaking at once; â€Å"Who is it? Who’s got it? Is it the Dunbars? Is it the Watsons?† (Jackson 298). It was Bill Hutchinson whose paper had a little black dot. A second later, Tessie, Bill’s wife, complains that he wasn’t given enough time that the draw was unfair; of course, everyone knows she’sShow MoreRelatedThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson972 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson, is a short story about an annual lottery draw in a small New England town. The town’s people have performed the lottery for more than seventy years. Shirley Jackson gives â€Å"The Lottery† a whole different meaning . The lottery is used for a public stoning, opposing to the very first thing that approaches to a reader s mind when they think of the lottery; a big amount of money . The reader sees both literal and metaphorical meaning of the Shirley Jackson’s short storyRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson Analysis784 Words   |  4 Pagesoutcomes. Throughout her short stories, â€Å"The Lottery† and  "The Possibility of Evil†, Shirley Jackson shocks readers with her unthinkable plot twists. During both stories, they begin very peaceful and calm but as you near the end, your view of both readings completely change. Throughout â€Å"The Lottery† if you win the lottery that year you will be sacrificed, which no one would believe would happen as the title has a positive connotation; also, â€Å"The Possibility of Evil† starts out with a nice older woman enjoyingRead MoreThe Lottery vs the Destructors Essay examples1046 Words   |  5 PagesThesis In Shirley Jackson’s, â€Å"The Lottery†, and Graham Greene’s â€Å"The Destructors†, the author creates a story filled with symbolism, irony, grim reality, and a ritualized tradition that masks evil, which ultimately showcases how people blindly follow tradition. Outline I. Introduction II. Setting B. Time Period III. Plot A. What messages are seen inRead MoreSummary On The Allegory Of Shirley Jacksons The Lottery871 Words   |  4 Pages Shirley Jackson’s story â€Å"The Lottery† serves as an allegory regarding humankinds inherent to be cruel and society’s ability to inure to violence. The author’s use of a third-person dramatic narrative combined with strong themes, symbols and irony clearly supports the lesson Jackson was trying to portray. Jackson’s short story shows how easy it is to be hostile when a group of villagers with a herd mentality blindly follow an outdated tradition and that evil knows no boundaries. JacksonRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson1504 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson In The Lottery Shirley Jackson fills her story with many literary elements to mask the evil. The story demonstrates how it is in human nature to blindly follow traditions. Even though some people have no idea why they follow these traditions. The title of the story plays a role in how Shirley Jackson used some literary elements to help mask the evils and develop the story. The title â€Å"The Lottery† serves as an allegory. When people think of the lottery majorityRead MoreLiterary Elements in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson1334 Words   |  6 Pagesshort story, â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson communicates this theme by showing how the villagers participate in a lottery every year. In life, there are people who follow tradition because the have to, or they are used to following without question. The author, Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1916 in San Francisco, California. In 1937, Shirley Jackson attended Syracuse University where she began to write short stories. She was famous for the short story, â€Å"The Lottery,† and her best sellerRead MoreThe Theme Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1159 Words   |  5 PagesWhen â€Å"The Lottery† begins, nothing seems unusual about this community, no hint of what is to come, or how heinous an act is about to occur. As they ready themselves for what seems to be a cheerful event, preparing as if to win something valuable, rather than to lose this lottery, eagerness and enthusiasm fill the air. The tradition, this community has been following, is overly duteous, more sheep like, illustrating the extent to which people will go to fit in, to be part of a crowd, to feel acceptedRead MoreThe Shock Value Of Jackson974 Words   |  4 PagesThe shock value of Jackson in The Lottery is not only widely known, but it is widely felt. Her writing style effectively allows the reader to pass a judgment on themselves and the society in which they live. Also In The Lottery Jackson is making a comparison to human nature. It is prominent in all human civilizations to take a chance as a source of entertainment and in this chance taken in the lottery, something is both won and lost. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, is a short story about an annualRead MoreA Review of Shirley Jacksons Short Story The Lottery643 Words   |  3 PagesShirley Jacksons short story The Lottery offers a disturbing vision of small-town life, mob mentality, and social conformity. The author uses a number of literary techniques to capture the mood, tone, and theme of The Lottery. One of those techniques is foreshadowing. Foreshadowing in The Lottery helps build the suspense that makes the story so effective. The meaning of the titular lottery is not fully revealed until the end of the story. Jackson compels the reader to discover why the childrenRead MoreThe Lottery, By Shirley Jackson1602 Words   |  7 PagesShirley Jackson’s, â€Å"The Lottery,† is a story about the need to find a sin offering to appease the community’s superstition while everyone else plays the scapegoat. The term and practice of using a sin offering and scapegoat can be traced back to the Bible in Leviticus chapter 16. Aaron, the brother of Moses, is the high priest for the nation of Israel. He is the only one who could enter into Holy of Holies, the place in the Jewish tabernacle that held the ark of the covenant and where God dwelt

The Changing of Chillingworth throughout The Scarlet...

The Changing of Chillingworth throughout The Scarlet Letter The character of Roger Chillingworth in Nathaniel Hawthornes Scarlet Letter is one of many different faces. Hawthorne changes the character of Chillingworth during different periods of the novel. As Chillingworths actions and his motives change, so in turn does the readers opinion of him, which ranges from compassion to antipathy. Hawthorne keeps the character of Chillingworth an enigma, and Hawthorne uses his narrative to shed light on the true feelings of Chillingworth, as well through the good doctors interaction with other characters, especially Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale. As we watch the plot evolve, and the reader observes Chillingworths actions,†¦show more content†¦In the first interaction between Chillingworth and Hester, Chillingworth is the doctor for both Hester and Pearl. Hester is dubious of Chillingworths motives for helping them, and with good reason. Chillingworth declares that he is not aiding her out of the goodness of his heart, but rather to make sure that she lives so that he may broadcast her sins throughout the community. Live, therefore, and bear about thy doom with thee, in the eyes of men and women, - in the eyes /of him whom thou didst call thy husband, - in the eyes of yonder child! And, that thou/ mayest live, take off this draught! (67) Chillingworth is very angry at Hester, but not because of love for Hester, but rather because Chillingworth feels emasculated by Hesters transgression. As revenge, Chillingworth wishes to strip her of any honor. The reader at this point feels nothing but anger towards Chillingworth at this point. Chillingworth has badgered Hester incessantly in order to ascertain the father of her bastard child. Speak out the name! That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast. (63) Up until this point the reader thinks that Chillingworth is a self-righteous crusader, but when it is finally revealed that Chillingworth is in fact Hesters husband, some sympathy isShow MoreR elatedNegative Effects Of The Scarlet Effect1551 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of the Scarlet Letter on Dimmesdale The scarlet letter is the Puritan’s method of broadcasting Hester’s sin to the world, but it also has an internal effect on Dimmesdale. Puritanism is a strict religion where pleasure is strictly forbidden and is punishable. When Hester Prynne is discovered to have committed adultery, she is forced to wear a scarlet A, which is short for ‘adultery’. When this is first revealed, Hester stands in the jail carrying baby Pearl and, with the people jeering, isRead MoreAnalysis Of The From The Scarlet Letter 959 Words   |  4 PagesNine, â€Å"The Leech† from the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most iconic books in history; its storyline, theme and literal characters have made an impact on the world of literature for hundreds of years. What stands out the most in the book is the use of archaic diction and figurative language, which serve to paint vivid, descriptive pictures of each character, specifically, Roger Chillingworth. In chapter nine of The Scarlet Letter, ‘The Leech†, Nathaniel HawthorneRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1593 Words   |  7 PagesEinstein), but the society during the 1640’s prevents the people of New England to develop in a way that benefits their well being. In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, readers notice how the characters, Hester Prynne, Pearl Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Arthur Dimmesdale act throughout the story. When reading The Scarlet Letter, the way society runs in New England, during the 1640s, changes the way the main c haracters act, some in a positive ways that end up helping the characterRead More##bolism And Symbols In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1107 Words   |  5 Pagescharacters. These places serve to show the reader what makes the character who he or she is and what is important to him or her. In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many symbols, from objects to the characters in the story. These symbols are integral to helping give the reader a deeper look into the story. The Scarlet Letter, a story of love and sin, uses its symbols to give the reader a better understanding of the characters and events that take place. These symbolsRead MoreThe Scaffold in Nathaniel Hawthrone ´s The Scarlet Letter 789 Words   |  3 Pages The symbol of the scaffold evolves in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet letter is build around the symbolic scaffold. The main characters transform the scaffold from the exposition to resolution. Next the traits of the scaffold itself deteriorate throughout the novel. Finally, the scaffold is applied symbolically throughout Hawthorne’s novel. The scaffold transforms throughout the book because they are there for different reasons. In the beginningRead MoreThe Symbolism Of Sin In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1086 Words   |  5 PagesSalem, made a book called The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter was a book about Puritans in New England, during the 1600’s in a small Puritan town. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl and Burrs to contribute to the overall theme of sin.   Ã‚  Ã‚   To begin, Hawthorne uses The Scarlet Letter to symbolize sin. Hester is the main character in the story, she wears The Scarlet Letter as a symbol of shame, because the letter she wears on her chest standsRead MoreFeminism In The Scarlet Letter Essay1313 Words   |  6 Pagesand authors alike are able to dispute whether classic literary reads are feminist literature, such as The Scarlet Letter. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing did not portray a new right being made for women in society due to the scandal it aroused, nor change how women saw Hester Prynne, and it offered a balance of strong male and female characters within the novel. Thus, The Scarlet Letter is not a piece of feminist literature. Women received no new right or advancement of a right due to HesterRead More The Scarlet Letter Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesThe Scarlet Letter A Critical Analysis of Hester Prynne The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1849. This novel won him much fame and a good reputation as a writer. In writing The Scarlet Letter, Hawethorne was creating a form of fiction he called the psychological romance. A psychological romance is a story that contains all of the conventional trappings of a typical romance, but deeply portrays humans in conflict with themselves. The Scarlet Letter won Hawthorne greatRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter: Themes Alive Today1689 Words   |  7 PagesMike Esposito Mrs. Forstrom American Literature – 1 7 November 2012 The Themes Are Still Alive Today Ah The Scarlet Letter, whether we like it or not, it is now a book we have all read and have most likely come to hate. Whether it be because of the old setting in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony in Boston that we cannot relate to or the old English language in which it is written, Nathaniel Hawthorne just failed to create a novel that most teenagers of the early twenty-first century canRead MoreScarlet Letter: Revenge1289 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Drost Mr. Bianca Block 6 11/5/12 Revenge: Connections and Deceit The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter are very similar in many distinct perspectives, but both pieces of writing have the same theme: revenge. For example, the two stories take place in the same time frame, approximately around the mid 1700 s to early 1800 s. During this time period, many people were highly religious, and believed that things that could not  be explained by normal means, thus forming the theory of the Devil

New York Times vs. Sullivan Free Essays

Issue: Does Freedom of Speech protect a newspaper when it makes false defamatory statements about the conduct of a public official if the statements were not made with knowing or reckless disregard for the actual facts? The holding does not match the issue. If the fourteenth amendment is going to be incorporated in the holding, then it has to be in the issue. Also, the issue needs to be posted in a constitutional way. We will write a custom essay sample on New York Times vs. Sullivan or any similar topic only for you Order Now   For example: By not requiring Sullivan to prove that the advertisement personally harmed him and dismissing the same as untruthful due to factual errors, did Alabama’s libel law unconstitutionally infringe on the First Amendments freedom of speech and freedom of press protections? Statement of the Facts: The New York Times published a full page ad soliciting funds to defend Martin Luther King, Jr. In the ad were accusations of brutal force employed by the Montgomery police force against King’s followers. L.B. Sullivan, the police commissioner at the time, claimed the ad maligned his character. He sued for, and won, damages from the lower court. The Holding/Decision of the Court: The Court held that the First and Fourteenth amendments protected a publisher from libel only if the false and derogatory statements were not made with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth. Reasons/Rationale: The Court made its decision based on three closely-related facts: †¢ First, the commercial nature of the advertisement; †¢ Second, the existence of actual malice; and, †¢ Finally, the tendency for the alleged libel to be connected to the plaintiff. The New York Times was paid to publish the ad. However the fact that it was a paid advertisement does not make it a ‘commercial ad’ in that it waives constitutional guarantees of Freedom of Speech. To consider it as such would discourage newspapers from accepting â€Å"editorial advertisements† which would have a dangerous tendency to shut out this form of information promulgation. Furthermore, it would curtail freedom of speech and shackle those who do not own publications.   This would be in violation of the First Amendment, which aims to secure â€Å"the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources†. There was no actual malice in this case although negligence can be ascribed to the NY Times for not exercising due diligence in ensuring the facts published. The paper had merely published a paid advertisement. The publisher cannot be accused of knowingly publishing falsehoods. Being a public official, Commissioner Sullivan had to accept the reality that his work would be under constant scrutiny. A higher level of proof is necessary to prove that the defendant printed material with intent to malign Sullivan’s character, especially since the alleged criticism was about his official functions as the police commissioner. Finally, the alleged libelous ad did not bear any mention of his name. While the ad criticized the activities and â€Å"brutality of the police†, there was never any direct mention of Sullivan or the office of the police commissioner. It could not then be said that the ad was a directed, defamatory and malicious attack upon him. In fact, the acts described in the ad – the padlocking of the dining hall, among others – were not even directly ascribed to the police, much less the police commissioner. On a side note, there is even suggestion that the commissioner manifested a guilty conscience in respect of the acts protested in the ad. The court therefore ruled in favor of freedom of speech over the right of a public official to defend himself from attack. Such cases have often been cited as jurisprudence to justify the level of criticism that can be inflicted on a government official. For acts related to his official functions, there is virtually no limit to the attacks that can be levied so long as they are not done with reckless disregard for the facts. Justice Black concurs on the basis that the 1st and 14th amendments do not merely delimit a state’s power to award damages to officials for criticism of their official conduct but completely prohibits a state from exercising this power.   He is of the opinion that the defendants had an absolute constitutional right to publish their criticisms regardless of whom they were aimed at. It is regrettable that the court stopped short of a holding unequivocally protecting our free press. Justice Goldberg concurs on the privilege to criticize official conduct, despite the harm which may flow from excesses and abuses and consistent with the prized American right â€Å"to speak one’s mind†. How to cite New York Times vs. Sullivan, Essay examples

Vignette free essay sample

Vignette 1. 1 Global Integration in Action Summary Vignette 1. 1 is information regarding the career development at IBM. The vignette looks at the connection between career development, retention, and work flows. The vignette points out that work will flow to the places that it is best performed. This is very true as a customer is going to seek out the vendor that best meets it needs and level of quality expected. IBM is examining what would draw the best employees so that they may produce the best work output. Questions 1. How do the three laws of global integration apply to career development? The first law of global integration is the law of economics. This law pertains to the supply and demand of the workforce. This would be integrating with career development by dictating how much work is being brought into the company. If demand is low, but supply is high then a company is going to have to make changes which may involve some negative paths for career development. We will write a custom essay sample on Vignette or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The second law is the law of expertise. This law basically pertains to making sure that each employee is correctly placed within the workforce at that their skills are being utilized to their highest potential. The third law is the law of openness. This law is the search for the candidate that not only fits with the company’s values, but that has the knowledge and skills to fit the position for which they are applying. 2. How attractive is the new career development model for the new millennium generation of knowledge workers? IBM has done a great job in understanding the new millennium generation and what they are seeking for career development. They have utilized six parts to build their program. Those six parts include: personalized learning, pervasive mentoring, expertise management, career tracks, my development, and blue pages. The personalized learning is great as many new millennium generations like the changes of both formal and informal learning environments. The blue pages is definitely geared directly at new millennium generations utilize the access of online networking. Conclusion In conclusion it is very important for IBM to focus on the new generation of workers and what will draw them into the workforce and how will they attract these sought after workers. It is very important for IBM to continue career development as part of their core management’s systems. By continuing to give employees access to learning, a marketplace for job bidding within IBM, and to help their employees