Marxist Shirley Jackson s The Lottery - 1113 Words

As a high-handed government is allowed to rule freely over the citizens, yearly tradition becomes engraved into the minds of the working class. Many that people follow simply because that is what has always been done. These can range from harmless traditions such as easter egg hunts and Christmas trees to far more harmful traditions such as killings. Marxist Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† is a frightening example of what happens when society can only distinguish two classes, specifically the oppressed working class and the wealthy class. This is made clear through the characterization of the higher class, as well as the lower class, and the effects within the norms of a social construct that has led them to carry out the lottery†¦show more content†¦Over all, the upper class establishes control through fear. The lower class, on the other hand, is composed of workers who are not allowed to doubt the authority. It is clear that some in this working class wish to rebel and overthrow their oppressors. Mrs. Hutchinson is the first example of this, â€Å"Just as Mr. Summers finally left off talking and turned to the assembled villagers, Mrs. Hutchinson came hurriedly along the path to the square, her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into place in the back of the crowd† (2). In being late to the lottery, Mrs. Hutchinson communicates her distaste for the community leadership and the lottery. She â€Å"slides into place† just as he has finished speaking, showing her disrespect for his words and ideas. Those who do not rebel against the lottery share a silent fear of it, â€Å"A sudden hush fell through the crowd as Mr. Summers cleared his throat and looked at the list† (3). Kept tired and ignorant by their leaders, they do not realize the true source of their probl ems, and do not push for rebellion. Because of this large difference between the classes, social change is made extremely difficult. This is expressed mainly through symbolism. First, Mr. Summers’s insistence that the box be changed: â€Å"Every year after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking again about a newShow MoreRelatedThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson1267 Words   |  6 PagesMaham Mirza Period 1 11/22/16 â€Å"The Lottery† Through Multiple Lenses For centuries, the socioeconomic status of a person determines their role in society. People who tend to have more money are subjected to a higher position with more power thus, having more influence on people around them. More often than not, people in high position of power take part in cruel acts that force many other to turn a blind eye. A prime example, would be World War II and the power of the Nazi army. Of courseRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson1438 Words   |  6 PagesWriter Shirley Jackson was born in 1916 in San Francisco, California. Among her early works was The Lottery.Do not be fooled by this name.The Lottery was the highly controversial and famous tale about a village that partakes in an annual death ritual. On June 26, 1948, subscribers to The New Yorker received a new issue of the magazine in the mail. There was nothing to outwardly indicate that it would be any different, or any more special, than any other issue. But inside was a story that editorsRead MorePsychoanalysis And Marxism And 19842034 Words   |  9 Pagesthese lenses, then, to the life of Orwell’s Winston Smith, readers can assess his place in society and understand how his role in the re-writing of history affected his life. Marxist theory is based upon the writings of Karl Marx and examines social hierarchies, as well as governmental structures and capitalist ideas. â€Å"Marxist literary criticism has traditionally been concerned with studying the embeddedness of a work within its historical, social, and economic contexts† (Rivkin 711). In other words