"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a short story that was first published in 1948 and has since become a classic of modern American literature. It is a tale of horror and violence that explores the dark side of human nature and the destructive power of tradition.
At first glance, "The Lottery" seems like a simple tale of a small town holding an annual tradition of drawing names to determine the winner of a cash prize. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the tradition is actually a lottery to determine who will be stoned to death. This shocking twist reveals the disturbing and violent nature of the tradition, as well as the willingness of the town's residents to blindly follow it without questioning its morality.
One of the key themes of "The Lottery" is the destructive power of tradition. The town's residents have been holding the lottery for generations, and it has become an integral part of their culture. Despite the fact that the tradition is violent and ultimately deadly, they continue to participate in it year after year, seemingly without questioning its purpose or the harm it causes. This reflects the idea that tradition can be a powerful force that shapes our actions and beliefs, even when it is deeply flawed or harmful.
Another important theme in "The Lottery" is the idea of conformity and the dangers of blindly following the crowd. The town's residents seem to be fully aware of the brutality of the tradition, yet they continue to participate in it without dissent. This reflects the idea that people are often more willing to go along with the crowd and follow societal norms, even when those norms are questionable or harmful. The story also suggests that this tendency to conform can have dangerous consequences, as it leads to the town's residents accepting and participating in a tradition that involves stoning one of their own to death.
Overall, "The Lottery" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that explores the dark side of human nature and the dangers of blindly following tradition. Its themes of conformity and the destructive power of tradition are still relevant today, and it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following the crowd and the importance of questioning the values and beliefs of our society.
The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne
In A great deal of modern criticism centers around the relation between fiction and non-fiction as well. The reason for my four star rating is because of his writing. He is ultimately outside the circle of true action and from his own account, never accomplishes much of anything with his life. His acute moral sense had been largely detached from the traditional context of orthodox faith, but it had found little else in which to thrive". It may be that the frustrations of living in an imperfect world cause some to seek a new way of life, by forming a community of like-minded optimists, to live closer to the earth and pursue common ideals. Additionally, the whole community is withdrawn from society, as it is a secluded Utopian community. It's certainly not as memorable as The Scarlet Letter, but it's a nice little read.
‎Blithedale Romance, The by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804
Many modern readers have never heard of it, and it hasn't been universally liked by those who've read it, even among those who aren't prejudiced against 19th-century diction. Years later, poorer and wiser, he remarries and has a second daughter. He fell on financial ruin and left her to be raised by his still-wealthy uncle who died, leaving her considerable wealth. In the city, Coverdale idly looks out from his hotel window into a boarding-house and thinks he sees Priscilla; in another room, he surely sees Zenobia and Westervelt. Its physical representation is demonstrated through her exotic flower.
He especially gets to know Hollingsworth well, but they come to a parting of the ways when Hollingsworth wants him to join him in his schemes to reform criminals. Nathaniel Hawthorne experienced this setting in real life, when he spent a few months as a part of a community called Brook Farm. But he is consumed with a natural, compassionate impulse to the point that it is no longer natural and he alienates almost everyone in his pursuit of his ideal. And, of course, the 19th century pace of the writing is leisurely, to say the least. Old Moodie with his alias and eye patch illustrates his use of concealment. At first, even with my irritation with the main characters and Hawthorne himself, I was quite caught up in the story. Was the story embroidered from real life? When it was first published, critics didn't know quite what to make of The Blithedale Romance.
And I also did not expect it to be such a soap opera like story haha. As they leave the Pulpit, Coverdale witnesses a moment of affection between Zenobia and Hollingsworth. Fed up with these people, he quits Blithedale, considering that this philanthropic scheme is folly, trying to transmit "a great black ugliness of sin. Some critics have argued that the latter is based on Brook Farm participant and noted 19th-century feminist Margaret Fuller, but while I'm admittedly not very familiar with her life, I can't say I see a noticeable resemblance; and Hawthorne stated definitely that none of the four main characters were drawn from any single living person at Brook Farm. My own reaction is more favorable, however.
The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne Plot Summary
Certainly this old man plays a most important role later. Thomas Cole, The Oxbow 1836. Some were organized around religious philosophies, some were secular. There is an old man who tells Miles a fantastic story about the pasts of of Zenobia and Priscilla The "noble-minded" reformer, Hollingworth, is not all that he has purported to be. Coverdale, the naïve narrator in search of an agrarian source of truth, discovers Blithedale the name itself should set off bells of suspicion , a community built around the ideals of Fourier, the utopian French social theorist. Moodie thanks him and they part. .
The three return to Blithedale immediately; Coverdale returns later. The image of the veil appears with almost every character. I was, however, pleasantly surprised. There they discuss women's rights, and Zenobia surprisingly sides with Hollingsworth and against Coverdale on a misogynistic point of view of women's roles. I also think he brings out the strengths and weaknesses of the ideal through this bit of fiction, though he could have been a bit more innovative with the plot?? When Coverdale asks Hollingsworth where Priscilla is, he goes up on stage, removes the veil and takes her away. He is rumored to have a relationship with Zenobia partway through the novel, and they plan on building a cottage together.
There is a strange woman named Zenobia who always wears a fresh flower in her hair, who turns out being the half-sister of a Blithedale foundling named Priscilla. He embodies the ideal, masculine leader. As the story This is the first-person story of Miles Coverdale, and his experience in the fictional utopian community of Blithedale, and the evolution of his relationships with three friends — Zenobia, Hollingsworth, and Priscilla. Overview of the Novel American author Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Blithedale Romance was published in 1852, a decade after his jaunt at Brook Farm, an intentional community outside Boston. Yep, let's just say that I'm rather confused about this novel.
If The Scarlet Letter is the zenith of his work, I cannot wait to read it. This is probably his one work that feels very contemporary, what with the commune setting and the very relevant gender dynamics. One day, I proclaimed to anyone who would listen, I would make that dream of a utopian intellectual society REAL, dammit! It was to be our form of prayer and ceremonial worship. Coverdale decides to seek respite from the tumultuous relationships at the farm and leaves for the city. The magician who exhibited the Veiled Lady somehow discovered this, found the woman, and convinced her to help him capture the girl, who he revealed was actually the Veiled Lady. I actually do like some of the characters though at the end, they surprised me so not sure if I do! Firstly, I have a particular interest in stories about communal life since I came close to joining a commune when I was a teenager.
