Professor
ENGL 102-B54 LUO
3 February 2014 “The Lottery” vs. “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
In “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” by D. H. Lawrence, and “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, the two authors illustrate symbols and themes throughout their stories in which one common idea is present: perhaps winning is not always positive. “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” by D.H. Lawrence is a fictional story about a woman’s obsession for money and the lack of love and affection she shows to her family. Her son Paul hopes to change his mother’s mind-set in order to gain her love by becoming lucky. Paul discovers a way to become lucky from a rocking horse that he receives as a Christmas present. He perceives that this horse has magical powers,…show more content… When the story begins, everything is pleasant in a quaint town as everyone gathers together to witness the winner of the lottery. Jackson uses many themes throughout the story to let the reader predict and uncover the story's unpleasant ending. The first major theme is a historical tradition. This annual tradition seems to have been going on since the beginning of time. No one seems to know the exact reason for the lottery, but Jackson throws a few clues and leaves no definite answers. Violence is the surprise twist at the end of the story. Shirley Jackson shows many different views by using the following symbols: the lottery, the black box and the name of a few characters. The lottery in this story is not an enjoyable event as you may think. In fact this lottery is truly cruel; how could someone kill another human being and be okay with it? Many members question this cruel act of violence, but no one seems to want to stand up for what they believe in or is right. Instead they continue to follow the traditions and other members of the community. The black box represents the following ideas: old-fashion or old, evil and death. The black box is known to be the original lottery box from the first members of the community. No one wants to create a new box just like no one wants to change the tradition. “The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely
