Introduction
The works of Shirley Jackson are well-known in literary society. Even though the issues addressed by the author appear to be diverse, special attention is drawn to the subject of conformity. In “The Lottery,” the writer delivers her unique understanding of the dangers of excessive conservatism. In this essay, an analysis of Shirley Jackson’s literary devices in the expression of conformity will be provided.
Main body
Conveying the problems behind compliance with public views requires specific techniques and ideas. In the famous short story “The Lottery,” Jackson implements various literary devices to confront the issue of conformity. For example, the author uses juxtaposition to describe the village’s features, contraposing other towns and the settlement of the main characters (Jackson & Homes, 2005). Impressive imagery and thorough descriptions of the events allow for a better understanding of the villagers’ community, specifying their orthodoxical behavior. Moreover, the overall tone of “The Lottery” is particularly grim, uncovering the worst scenarios that excessive conformity might lead to. In the story, the lottery winner is stoned to death by the rest of the villagers, which is a gruesome result of the inhabitant’s disobedience to the elders (Jackson & Homes, 2005). Finally, Tessie Hutcherson, the woman who disrupted the flow of the event by insinuating that the process was not fair, is chosen as the lottery’s winner (Jackson & Homes, 2005). The use of foreshadowing is especially striking in this part, as it presents the true meaning of the lottery – the elder’s attempt to control the villagers.
Conclusion
To conclude, Shirley Jackon’s use of various literary devices in “The Lottery” is a magnificent example of a great writer’s work. By implementing foreshadowing and setting the tone of the story, the author describes different issues related to conformity. Thorough descriptions of the events create impressive imagery, which allows the reader to get fascinated with the narrative. Utilizing these techniques is a valuable method of creating a fantastic piece of literature.
References
Jackson, S., & Homes, A. M. (2005). The Lottery and other stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.