Comparing The Lottery, By Shirley Jackson, And The Rocking...

Fiction Essay By: Martin Bennett 6/1/17 Stuck between a Rock a Horse Race No family is perfect, family is family, their love will always be there. At least till you fall off a rocking horse or hit by a few rocks. What I am referring to are these two short stories â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson, and â€Å"The Rocking-Horse Winner’’ by D. H. Lawrence. Now for a brief overview of both these unsettling stories. The Lottery is a story of a small town basically consuming a member of its own community, It s like a smoothie of Dismay with figurative cannibalism, a bit of social commentary, a drop†¦show more content†¦Paul has earned money for his mother; however, it isn’t enough. The stress begins to effect Paul, as he is driven to make more money. Paul’s fixation with making his mother happy through monetary gain caused his illness and inevitable death after winning the big race. Just like the old saying says â€Å"Money Can’t buy Happiness†. Ø In â€Å"The Lottery† I was unable to distinguish the conflict of the story until a bit towards the end. The rising struggle is weaved throughout the entire story. It starts out with this festival and all the town taking part. There is joking and laughter and playing while they wait for everyone to arrive. Mrs. Hutchinson is late but finally arrives and everyone jovially allows her to pass through until she reaches her husband s side. Finally, the business part is done, everyone is there or someone is standing in for them and the drawing begins. The winner is picked...and out come’s the bricks. The theme of the two short stories are written is very different, however they do have some similarities like Family. Ø In â€Å"The Rocking Horse Winner† Paul s want to please his mother ultimately leads to his death. Now let me be clear the mother-son relationship in The Rocking-Horse Winner is a clutter of unfulfilled desire, anxiety, hostility, and terror. Let’s not forget to add Paul s father is almost absent from the story, we don’t even get to learn his name. While his mother frantically tries to make up for all the extravagances