In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery”, and Graham Greene’s “The Destructors”, the author creates a story filled with symbolism, irony, grim reality, and a ritualized tradition that masks evil, which ultimately showcases how people blindly follow tradition.
Outline I. Introduction
II. Setting B. Time Period
III. Plot A. What messages are seen in both stories IV. Characters A. Main Characters B. Traits of Characters
V. Tone of Stories VI. Conclusion
Comparison and Contrast of The Lottery and The Destructors W. Goode English102 Liberty University
Comparison and In comparison with the short story of Shirley Jackson, The Destructors also sheds light on initially harmless childish pranks that gradually lead to destruction and ruin. Being deprived of previous childhood preoccupations, the young boys lost their innocence, as well. Thus, led by good intentions to save an old man Mr. Thomas from his miserable existence, the Wormsley Common Gang attempts to destroy his house. It is not strange that boys who face destruction and violence on daily basis take that role model and try to ruin everything that is valuable. Therefore, The Destructors, as well as The Lottery, depicts disapproval of anything beautiful and worth like human life and a two hundred-year-old house. A mysterious amorality of these two literary pieces reaches its apogee when the result of the committed acts becomes obvious. The Lottery ends with villagers' attack of Mrs. Hutchinson who is screaming “it isn't fair, it isn't right” (Jackson, 1982, p. 146). However, Tessie had nothing to say against the town's tradition until she was faced to make a sacrifice by her own. Mrs. Hutchinson makes attempts to struggle against the cruel custom, but other townspeople ignore her protests and blindly follow the ritual. Thereby, the violent death of the winner is a rewarding prize of this annual lottery. The conclusion of The Destructors is also violent – after
