Essay on Shirley Jackson and Her Short Stories - 631 Words

Shirley Jackson’s stories often had a woman as the central character who was in search of a more important life other than the conventional wife and mother. These characters however were often chastised for their refusal to conform to a woman’s traditional way of life. Much like her characters, throughout Shirley Jackson’s life, she also rejected the idea of fitting into societys perception of a womans role. Shirley Jackson was married to writer and literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. Hyman was threatened by Jackson’s talent and often discourage her. Because of this discouragement her tales develop into her revolt against a male-dominated society and her domineering husband. Jackson’s rebellion against society’s opinion of a woman’s†¦show more content†¦The towns’ people live by a strict rule of gender roles. The boys collect stones for the lottery and the men converse about planting and the rain, tractors and taxes, the girls stand aside quietly joking and the women exchanged bits of gossip (Jackson 1). Jackson seemed to struggle with her identity or place as a daughter, wife, mother, and writer. Her characters also seemed to be in search of their identity. In Jackson’s story â€Å"The Haunting of Hill House† Eleanor Vance is clearly searching for her identity. Eleanor was responsible for the care of her recently deceased mother. She was also in charge of her sister and was not afforded to live her life as she would have liked. Dr. Montagues invitation to Hill House is Eleanor’s chance to escape and live her own life. As Eleanor makes her way to Hill House, she refers to the magic thread of road. . . [that] could lead her from where she was to where she wanted to be (17). In the end, Eleanor cannot return to her former life. She chooses her path with suicide as a way to stay with the house. Eleanor says, I am really doing it, I am doing this all by myself, now, at last; this is me, I am really really really doing it by myself (245), it is apparent she is at peace and has found her identity. Jacksons writing usually stayed along the themes of one searching for identity or the injustice a character faced yet, readers and critics were puzzled by her characters and categorized Jackson as a supernatural writer. In factShow MoreRelated Shirley Jacksons The Lottery 946 Words   |  4 PagesShirley Jackson is said to be one of the most â€Å"brilliant and influential authors of the twentieth century.† â€Å"Her fiction writing is some of the most important to come out of the American literary canon.† (http://shirleyjackson.org/Reviews.html) Jackson wrote many short stories and even some books. They are more on the dark, witchlike side, however. Kelleher explains that Jackson stated in some interviews that she practiced magic. No one really knows if she was serious while practicing witchcraftRead MoreShirley Jackson’s Constant Battle of Self Satisfaction879 Words   |  4 PagesDarryl Hattenhauer, Shirley Jackson, an American gothic author, was ranked amon g Americas most highly regarded fiction writers during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s (1). Jackson argued that â€Å"a good story must engage its reader, persuade him that he wants to belong in the story for as long as it lasts† and if the author fails to provide such experience then they can consider their work a failure (Hall 113). The idea of authors providing an experience of enjoyment, made Jackson a successful writerRead MoreAnalysis Of Shirley Jackson s Flower Garden 1511 Words   |  7 PagesKnown for her psychological thrillers, Shirley Jackson has always been able to get into the mind of the reader and force them to think of the deeper meaning behind her stories. However, it is always brought to question if her best selling works were a result of her poor mental health. Growing up, Jackson had always felt like an outsider; dealing with a cruel mother and other children her age only fueled her isolation later in life. As a way to record her feelings and thoughts, Jack son began writingRead MoreAn Unkindness of Tradition: Shirley Jackson ´s Biography1624 Words   |  7 Pagesmorbid and daunting way of writing. A common form is that of suspense and mystery. Shirley Jackson takes mystery to a distinctive level. She depicts an era that has not yet been revealed. By looking at the background of this author, analyzing her writing and responding personally you will better enhance your learning experience and connection with this type of dark literature. Author Biography Shirley Jackson was an extremely well liked American author during the 1900s. However, in recent yearsRead MoreThe Lottery by Shirley Jackson1764 Words   |  7 Pagesyou read something that made you question your entire life? How would you react? A suspenseful gothic thriller told in fewer than 4,000 words, filled with excitement and eeriness, leaving the reader speechless. The Lottery , a short story written by famous writer Shirley Jackson, created an uproar on June 26, 1948, when it was published in the magazine The New Yorker (Ball). The gothic thriller, set in an unknown time and place, shares the tradition of a small town, a little larger than three hundredRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson910 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Analysis of the Short Story â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson explores the subject of tradition in her short story â€Å"The Lottery†. A short story is normally evaluated based on its ability to provide a satisfying and complete presentation of its characters and themes. Shirley describes a small village that engages in an annual tradition known as â€Å"the lottery†. Narrating the story from a third person point of view, Shirley uses symbolism, foreshadowing and suspense to illustrateRead MoreThe Unexpected Surprise of Violence1009 Words   |  5 Pagesvalued once risks are taken, but the outcome is never expected. Shirley Jackson, reader of witchcraft books, horrifies people with her perspective on the understanding of merciless rituals that kept communities at ease. Shirley Jackson develops her theme of unexpected violence in her short story â€Å"The Lottery† through the use of irony, symbolism, and denouement. On a summer day in a small town in the short story, â€Å"The Lottery†, Jackson takes advantage of the peaceful environment and adds a convolutedRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson. 1. Focus/Thesis For Your885 Words   |  4 Pages THE LOTTERY by Shirley Jackson 1. Focus/thesis for your essay on the story you are researching The traditions and the rituals of the lottery authored by Shirley Jackson seems to be just as old as the town itself, more so since most residents don’t actually recall any of the old rituals, ven the Old Man Warner, who celebrates his 77th lottery. This implies that they are archaic in some ways and they are rooted in the traditions and superstitions that seem to include the crops and the human sacrificeRead MoreAnalysis of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson993 Words   |  4 Pageswe blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. Shirley Jackson was born in 1919 in San Francisco, California to Leslie and Geraldine Jackson. She is most well known for her short story titled â€Å"The Lottery† which was first published in The New Yorker to overwhelming and mixed reviews. The lottery, as portrayed in the short story, is a religious, annual ceremony in the afternoon of June 27. This event is said to be older than Old Man WarnerRead MoreLiterary Elements in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson1334 Words   |  6 PagesThe short story, â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson communicates this theme by showing how the villagers participate in a lottery every year. In life , there are people who follow tradition because the have to, or they are used to following without question. The author, Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1916 in San Francisco, California. In 1937, Shirley Jackson attended Syracuse University where she began to write short stories. She was famous for the short story, â€Å"The Lottery,† and her best

How does Shakespeare make Act 1, Scene 1 exciting and dramatic Free Essays

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most memorable plays. The play is based on star-crossed lovers with tragedy, violence, love and arguments. The story of Romeo and Juliet is about two lovers that can’t be together because their families are enemies, but nothing can’t stop them and at the end both of them due in a dramatic way. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Shakespeare make Act 1, Scene 1 exciting and dramatic? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main themes are romance, tragedy and conflict. The play is relevant for us because those kinds of things still happen, young people kill them self because of love and in some families, the girls can’t be able to pick her own husbands, the females have to do the house work and the males are supposed to bring money home. The play was set in the 14th century. Shakespeare had to face loads of challenges to make the play interesting, also he had to keep on improving, to not get the audience throw the food on stage, if they have done that, then this meant that the play is boring. Theatre in Shakespeare era was a place where rich people could go to rest, and have fun, whereas the poor people would be able to earn money, by selling beer, snacks, or collecting the lost money. Theatre nowadays is a place that must be cultural; you are not allowed to throw food on stage, if you do so you have to leave. In Shakespeare era there weren’t any spot lights or CD players which form you could be able to play music, or add sound effect, so Shakespeare had to make scene dramatic and exciting by costumes, voices, words and body language. The servants are the first characters on the stage. They grab the audience’s attention because servants are not very important, they are on a bottom shelf in your life, and they are also known as not educated people. Thought that all the best things should only happened to them, but over a time everything has changed. Some people would like seeing servant because they are normally low status, so called groundlings. The rich people might felt weird when they saw someone poor on the stage, because how can someone lower classes than them perform, also they never could expect that. The opening scene begins with just two characters on the stage and soon there where more than ten, fighting fiercely. Shakespeare decision to include a fight at the beginning was clever because he made the play exciting and dangerous; most of the people enjoyed it, because when the beginning is great the rest must be much better. `Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them which is disgrace to them, if they bare it` this shows that Sampson is planning everything out carefully, and knows what going to make them fight. Sampson and Gregory are very good friends, and it shows that they trust each other, but Sampson is more clever than him, because he is the one that plans everything out. Tybalt and Benvolio have very contrasting characters. Tybalt seems to be angry while Benvolio is calm. ‘Part, fools! ‘ this shows that Benvolio is trying to stop the fight; this also tells as that Benvolio is a peace maker and that he has manners and he is higher status. The explanation mark show’s that he is shouting and trying get attention from the fighters. On the other hand, Tybalt says `As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee`. This quote suggests he is angry and want to continue the trouble, so called fight. The audience might enjoy seeing him on stage. He also shows that he like to be everywhere, where trouble begins, he also must be the start of it, or join in, somebody else’s trouble. Shakespeare then changes the mood of opening scene from a serious fight to comical rows between husbands and wives. When Lady Capulet says `A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword? ` it may make the audience giggle or laugh because a women is shouting, at her husband and making him feel old and unusable. The scene could be also dramatic, Lord Capulet could go up and hit the women, and show her no respect. The scene is also exciting because in this scene woman is showing no respect to man, which normally is the other way round. This shows the audience that not only men can be in control, and they are the one that should wear pants, which mean to be in control. The males in the audience would have felt ashamed because the other main male character, is not able to join the fight, because of his wife, she didn’t let him. Women however would felt joyful because a woman is keeping a man on a short string. As the scene continues, the fight escalates and Shakespeare introduces Prince Escalus to try and stop the violence. The Prince represents a figure of a strong person, which everybody should be scared of. Prince Escalus represent is responsible for everything that happens; he is like a boss or leader to everyone. He is protecting, and making sure everyone is safe when he is around. Shakespeare needs this character to be able to change the mood of the play. In the Elizabethan era everyone enjoyed the fight in the play, because it was difficult to see them on the street. Fights were improving everyone’s humor, so Shakespeare had needed a character to stop the fight, and make the audience react differently. The audience could be very angry about stopping something that they had enjoyed. The upper classes may be happy because the violence has stopped, and is not giving anyone such a bad example. The groundling will be upset, because they are not used to see fight with upper class people. The prince speech used language to create a change of mood, `Purple foundations issuing my veins. In this quotation the Prince had used a metaphor, he is trying to compare our veins to foundations, because the blood would never stop going around our body. He is trying to tell everyone that, the anger should stay inside of us, like the blood in veins; Prince is also trying to say that the fight is unneeded. This gives us impression that the Prince is treating everyone equal, he never keeps anyone’s side. This language contributes to making Act 1, Scene 1 a dramatic and effective opening, because Prince is changing the mood, he also shows everyone his opinion about fighting. The introduction of Romeo to the opening scene is interesting because we get to learn more about his character before he even appears on stage. From Benvolio and Lord Montague we learn that Romeo is fed up, sad and unhappy. This can make the audience feel curious or annoyed because the main character, start form being very negative about life, while he is rich and can get anything he want. Romeo’s conversation with his cousin reveals a lot about his character and grabs the audience’s attention. ` Why the, O brawling love, O loving hate` Romeo is talking about love difficulty, why does it have to be so painful. Romeo had used oxymoron’s, `loving hate` those two words are opposite of each other, by using language like that he shows the audience that he is very confused about his life. The audience alternatively might think that Romeo is too young to know anything about love problems, and that he is not able to show his emotions. Normally 15 years old boy should have a positive character, and minds full of having fun. Shakespeare adds more elements of drama to the first scene, when Benvolio tells Romeo that he should have another look for good-looking girls. By giving liberty into thine eyes, examine other beauties. ` This could be exacting because Romeo could have an argument with him, about what love really is, and it not about only being beauty. Benvolio had sounded like, he never would understand love, and all he thinks about is girls’ beauty, not what she has to offers, inside her. He is not trying to understand Romeo feeling, he is telling him, to try to find someone else, and forget about the other girl. In my conclusion, Act 1 Scene 1 is very exciting and dramatic, it makes the audience want to see more, it also explains the whole play action. Shakespeare successfully had used the first scene to introduce the themes of the play, love, argument, tragedy. Shakespeare also had good introducing of characters, such as Romeo and enemies, Shakespeare engages with a range of audience members, through language, action, humor and romance, for example females would be excited when they will be seeing romance, whereas males would be very excited watching fights. In my opinion the play is great for young people, because it explains how much love can be painful and the confusion about it, like Romeo had with Rosaline. The most dramatic and exciting scene was when Romeo was talking with Benvolio, about Rosaline. I thought that he might even kill himself, Benvolio was replaying in humor way, he really didn’t understand what Romeo was saying, Romeo was very negative character, what made everything very dramatic, because nobody could think of what goes around 15 years old boy minds. He could think of death, or of ways to die. Form first scene you get the understanding, about the whole play, it tells you everything step by step. How to cite How does Shakespeare make Act 1, Scene 1 exciting and dramatic?, Papers

Music and Teenagers Essay Example For Students

Music and Teenagers Essay In 1985 the way music lyrics were looked at changed forever. You had organizations, specifically the Parents Music Resource Center, better known as the MARC, fighting against lyrics in certain songs. They wanted a way for parents to be warned before letting their kids listen to a certain song or album. Tipper Gore was a big part of how it started. She had bought her kids a Prince album. She was dancing in the living room with them to the music one day when she heard the lyrics and was shocked at what the lyrics were saying. She decided that something needed to be done so that parents would know what was on an album before buying it. Other parents agreed with and formed the MARC. As an organization they created a list titled The Filthy Fifteen. In which they listed fifteen songs that they deemed as inappropriate, stating their reasoning next to each song. This list had artists like Prince, Twisted Sister, Defy Leopard, and even Madonna and Cindy Lapper. These artists made this list because of themes in their lyrics such as sex, masturbation, violence, language, drug and alcohol use, or even occult. Keep in mind that these artists were topping the charts, and had videos on MAT all the time. The MARC arranged a meeting in the Senate, which was not very hard, seeing as many of the members were wives of the Senate Members. At this meeting they addressed many issues with lyrics in the music industry. The MARC had a strong testimony about the lyrics in the music they were attacking. Talking about things like what these lyrics said, and even giving examples. Before the trial they were also offered the choice of a warning label on records and Music and Teenagers By inexorability The Parents Music Resource Center has asked the record executives to create an industry wide uniform standard defining what constitutes explicit and violent trial. We of the MARC are not trying to ban any songs, and we oppose censorship or government regulation. Instead, we believe that the music industry itself and its media outlets should voluntarily cut down on violent and sexually explicit material. We have proposed a rating system for records, tapes and videos that the industry could administer itself. She was saying that the Marcs goal was to make it so parents could know what was on the album before they bought it for their kids. When the ARIA offered them the generic warning label it was Just that: Generic. They wanted something where they loud be able to see exactly what was on an album before they bought it and had their kids listen to it. When the NCR got together they decided there should be some kind of rating system that was worldwide and everyone could use so they knew what they were buying. The music was also represented at this hearing. You had the ARIA trying to stop this act all together and make sure that the music was protected against censorship. Stars like John Denver, Dee Snider, and Frank Kappa prepared testimonies against the MARC. The main concern for all of them was the idea of censorship. They defended homeless, and the music industry, by throwing out the first amendment. Like in this quote from Frank Kappas Testimony Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are, in my opinion, more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religious Thought, and the Right to Due Process for composers, performers and retailers are imperiled if the MARC and the major labels consummate this nasty bargain. Kappa expressed the idea that anyone should be able to listen to the music they want. He was saying that the MARC had the wrong idea, and because of that they ere trying to make a law that was going to change composers, performers and retailers rights. Although he was assured multiple times that there would be no legal action, he continued on with his opinion of what was actually happening with the MARC. The same idea was shared by John Denver in his testimony. Censorship of the written or spoken word. It was so in Nazi Germany. It is so in many places today where those in power are afraid of the consequences of an informed and educated people. In a mature, incredibly diverse society such as ours, the access to all perspectives of an issue becomes more and more important. Those things which in our experience are undesirable generally prove to be unfettering and sooner or later become boring. That process cannot and should not be stifled. That which is denied becomes that which is most desired, and that which is hidden becomes that which is most interesting. Consequently a great deal of time and energy is spent trying to get at what is being kept from you. Our children, our people, our society and the world cannot afford this waste. John Denver shared the same ideas as Frank Kappa, but worded them differently. He compared what the MARC was trying to do to what happened in Nazi Germany. He said that when things are censored it blocks things. It makes it seem like and the bad lyrics dont exist, and in Deniers opinion, censoring the peoples minds. You can shove things aside, try to hide them, but there will always be people who want to see what this bad is. People want what is being kept from you. It is human nature. The MARC trying to take that away was only going to draw more people toward it. His main idea was that you cannot keep things from the People. That they should be able to hear and see everything as it was meant to be heard and seen, without the censorship, cause then they can have a better perspective, and that is what it was all about in his head. Both were told not to worry about it by The Chairman of the Senate, John C. Music Appreciation Elements of Music EssayThat doesnt define the kind of person he is though. Dee Snider. He is a strong Christian, he has kids, makes heavy metal music, and still adheres to his beliefs. Just because he is a person who makes the kind of music that s titled as evil or bad doesnt make him bad. Its Just what you listen to. People listen to this kind of music for all sorts of reasons. Whether it be that they are depressed, and use it as an outlet, or they like how it sounds, or even the message behind the song. A genre is Just a type of music, not a labeling system for types people. So, can people actually be influenced by music? Of course they can. Teens spend a majority of their time listening to music. Some studies have shown that kids who listen to music a lot, but that doesnt mean that bands like My Chemical Romance or Link Park are bad for your mental health. It could mean that kids are using this music to escape from the burden of their mental state. They use music as a solace. According to Pediatrician Brian Primacy, at the University of Pittsburgh teens who suffer from depression and listen to a lot of music Dont feel like doing anything, have to perform. Teens turn to the music because they feel like there is not anything else. They want to listen to something that they can connect to, and be surrounded by something they can be themselves with, not having to struggle to keep all their emotions locked up somewhere inside themselves. Parents can think of eons listening to a lot of music as their way of calling out for help. Music is not commonly the caus e for a mental illness, but it can be an escape. Music can influence people though, especially when one in three popular songs has a reference to drugs, sex or alcohol. Which means for every hour of music that kids listen to they receive at least thirty-five references to substance use and sex. But then again, if a kid is that easily influenced-which most teens are seeing as their brains are still growing- should kids really be listening to music that will make them do bad things? About 4% of all music is anti-drug and sex. Getting access to that music is hard because it is not making the top 40 charts. The good news is that there is a whole subculture dedicated to anti-drug, promiscuous sex, and Just living a good, clean, or straight-edge, life. Straight-edge is a youth movement that originated in the late seventies and early eighties when the Punk Movement was getting started. It is based around the punk lifestyle, but there is one difference. People who are straightedge tend to live a life without drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and even promiscuous sex. A lot of straight-edge people are vegetarian or vegan, and some even go to the point where they wont take certain medication. It started as a band thing. Band members were living this kind of lifestyle, and it slowly began to rub off onto the kids who listened and looked up to the band. These people did not like what was going on around them with the self destruction, self hatred, substance abuse, and random sex. This subculture that began in cities like Boston and Washington DC spread quickly across the world, and thousands of people live this lifestyle. People can listen to hardcore bands, or even music similar to what is on the top 40, but get a positive message instead. Today we do not hear much about music controversy, We hear something about how Foster the Peoples new song is really controversial, or how Eke$ha cannot play at a venue because of a lyric she has. We hear about Mille Cyrus doing something too sexual in a new music video, or lighting a blunt on stage. But with celebrities acting the way they do today it is not that shocking. In the sasss there was a lot of new controversy. People were becoming more and more open, and music with controversial lyrics were topping the charts. Today all the music that has lyrics that would be considered bad in our common age is underground. You do not hear about bands like Blood On The Dance Floor Motionless in White or even Escape the Fate and Bring Me The Horizon. If bands like those were making the top forty you might hear about more people complaining and wanting to do something. The top forty songs are by people like Robin Thicket and Mille Cyrus who clamoring sex, and insult women, but society has grown to the point where lyrics like that are normal. People Music does not affect teens in a way where it changes how they act and what they do, but the idea that it does has caused a lot of discussion and controversy. Groups have come together and protested the lyrics of certain songs, demanding a way that people will be warned of explicit content before buying an album. Most notably what went on with the Parents Music Resource Center and the Senate hearing of 1985. Music has been blamed for events such as the Columbine Shooting, teens acting out in violence, or Just being angst-filled. If that is the case, then why have we not heard more about people taking action? Teens have always been stereotyped as rebellious, and angst, they are known for acting out. A lot of times teenagers will listen to music hat they know their parents will not like Just because they know that their mom or dad will not like it. Luckily though, music that has some of the more darker, or highly sexual themes, are underground. There is always alternatives to that kind of explicit music. The straight-edge subculture is one that allows kids to listen to the same genre or kind of music, but get a positive message out of it instead because of a difference in lyric meaning. The way that teens act does not Just come down to what music they listen to, there are more factors than some of their favorite bands or artists.