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The Lottery

In: English and Literature

Submitted By marleevlahos
Words 964
Pages 4
Marlee Vlahos
Liberty University DATE \@ "MMMM d, y" February 2, 2015

Young Goodman Brown & The Lottery
A review of both stories

In this essay I will take the time to review two stories both of the fiction nature. I will discuss the conflicts of both stories as well as the plot structure. I will talk about the characters and give my point of view. Both stories are very thought provoking which should make this very interesting to compare and contrast.
In the story of “Young Goodman Brown” we can understand the setting from what the limited omniscient narrator is describing to us. The reader gets a visual of a spooky setting of dark woods in the nearby town of Salem. The first thing a reader would think of when they hear the word/place “Salem” is witches. So automatically becomes a Halloween type of feel. It is then discussed that the story takes place during the time of the witch trials. It is not spoken as to what season this takes place, but with the visual you get the reader can assume its fall. The forest, the time of the story and the location of Salem helps to make this story very believable.
In “The Lottery,” we getting a different visual. As the reader the image you create of the setting describes is a small village in a small town in a very rural areal. The feeling you get from the setting described is a feeling of everything revolving around the good harvest of their crops. The author paints a setting of a town of people doing a lottery that you feel in the beginning may be an exciting time with possibly winning money, only to see that there is a shocking ending of murder, not just murder but a horrific stoning.
There is really nothing to compare between the two stories as their settings fall into two totally different categories. One with a completely unpredictable ending and another with a ending that the plot led to.
When we discuss the conflicts that went on in the story we find the most conflicts in “Young Goodman Brown” The conflict is continuous throughout the story with him constantly fighting with himself to reject the devil. His conflicts were believing that everyone around him was consumed by the devil. The conflict was resolved in a negative way when Brown went to his grave living a miserable life. I also felt the author was painting a picture of hypocrisy of the church. The example that showed me that was when Brown walked into the church and the Minister said “Welcome to the communion of your race.” The message the author is trying to say it seems is that you go into church thinking everyone is pure when in fact they are sinners just like everyone else.
Looking at “The Lottery” we have a whole different conflict. The conflict was how Tessy thought it was unfair that her family then her was chosen. The irony of this story is that the character “Tessey” that gets chosen actually seemed like she was the one that was a big supporter of this lottery. I almost got the feeling that she was even excited about it, of course till she got chosen. At least that is what myself the reader interpreted.
Looking into the characterization of “Young Goodman Brown.” The author portrays a character that seems to be weak and naive. Brown does not seem to be a leader. He is a man that needs to be led. His decisions are wishy washy and not solid. He is easily pressured and manipulated.
As I mentioned above, the character of “Tessey” is portrayed almost as a person that knows everyone and is somewhat of the outgoing woman of the village. She comes off as very confident and it looks as if she carries herself in a way of entitlement. The author demonstrated that when he showed her being so shocked that she was chosen and saying how unfair it was. It almost seemed that if someone else was chosen and not her that she would actually enjoy stoning another person.
Both stories were so thought provoking and I actually enjoyed them. I have never been much of a fiction person but I am still thinking about these stories.

References
Hawthorne, Nathaniel (September 2005) Young Goodman Brown
Jackson, Shirley (June 1948) “The Lottery” The New Yorker

Title: Young Goodman Brown & The Lottery, a review of two stories.
Thesis-In this essay I will take the time to review two stories both of the fiction nature. I will discuss the conflicts of both stories as well as the plot structure. I will talk about the characters and give my point of view. Both stories are very thought provoking which should make this very interesting to compare and contrast.

Introduction: * Thesis Statement- discuss what you are about to talk about and prep to start talking about setting.

Setting- Goodman Brown * Dark Forest * Salem * Witch trials

Setting - The Lottery * Village or small town * Rural area * Area where crops are main source of economy

Characters- * Young Goodman Brown- Naive, easily pressured, not a solid decision maker and not a good leader * Tessey- Gregarious, entitled, busy body

Irony * The Lottery- Tessy seemed to enjoy the lottery when it came up every year. This year she got chosen * Young Goodman Brown- Wife’s name is Faith, and how it turned out was he died without any faith in man.

Important points the author makes * Shows hypocrisy of church by demonstrating the scene of everyone being of the devil that was a member of the church, including the sunday school teacher. * The lottery- Author focuses on Tradition of the lottery and how important it is for the crops.

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