Feminism in Shirley Jackson’s “the Lottery” Essay

Steven Heald Mrs. Mills ENC1102 2.18.13 Feminism in Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† Modern criticism of Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery has focused almost exclusively on the issues of feminism and gender roles yet some recent reviews tend to classify the writing as feminist literature. They claim the story highlights the negative aspects of patriarchal societies through the telling of the lottery ritual. However many overlook the roles that the women play throughout this story. The purpose of this paper is to examine how Shirley Jackson uses feminism throughout her story and also to show the feminist attitude the women have towards the male-dominated society. Shirley Jackson’s story is trying to establish the facts around†¦show more content†¦It is so apparent a character that we are getting forgetful and become stereotypes notwithstanding the fact that we are part of the truth that we condemn. Mrs. Hutchinson for instance, for quite a long time had the insight that the lott ery was never the right thing to prevail but he never did anything up until when it dawn to her that it was her turn to face the wrath of lottery did she turn out a loud cry (Oehlschlaeger 250). Male domineering is very much evident in the way events are conducted and that is very clear an observation according to every writer. Women have no say in the choices men make on behalf of and upon them. However, according to Mohammed, if a feminine view is adopted while reading through this story, one would end up holding to the view that women are more powerful than men in the society. Oehlschlaeger (2013) asserts that it is difficult to comprehend the need to bring to an end such brutal acts of celebrations, which demean the value of human life. This is the missing discussion in the other articles and the authors were not able to prescribe a way to see the tradition die out. The discussion all along is centered on how this was conducted and no author has critiqued the same course of cele brations. What is not clear though is whether this lottery will come to an end someday considering the fact some neighboring communities have chosen to let go this tradition. That womenShow MoreRelatedThe 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 MoreCriticism in the Short Story The Lottery1660 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Criticism in The Lottery This paper will examine the short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, with the aids of lenses such as cultural criticism and feminist criticism. The story was written and published just as the twentieth century reached its middle point. The setting of the story takes place in small town America. The success of the story comes from Jacksons applied knowledge of stereotypes of things such as America, small town America, families, and women. Jackson plays on culturalRead MoreAnalysis Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1964 Words   |  8 PagesJake Gallo Professor Underwood English 1B 4 May, 2016 Unassailable Truth in the Lottery Society can have a great effect on one’s actions and thoughts of truth. Some believe there is an idea of an unassailable truth, which is a truth that cannot be deemed false. This ideology is brought to the forefront in Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† (1948), a short story in which a small village of about 300 people stone one of their own each year as part of a cultural tradition. In this story the focus is onRead MoreGender Roles in â€Å"The Lottery† In the short story â€Å"The Lottery,† Shirley Jackson shows apparent1300 Words   |  6 PagesGender Roles in â€Å"The Lottery† In the short story â€Å"The Lottery,† Shirley Jackson shows apparent gender roles where women have little to no say with decisions and arrangements. The women in the story are portrayed as mediocre to the men of the village. This is mainly shown by there not being a single dominant female character throughout the story. Not only is the social standing of the women lower, they are not treated with the respect that women deserve. 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