The Lottery and Other Stories (Modern Library)

by Shirley Jackson

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2220 ratings, 4.03 average rating, 180 reviews (more data...)

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published

2000 (first published 1949) by Modern Library

binding

Hardcover, 320 pages

isbn

0679640398 (isbn13: 9780679640394)

description

A haunting and powerful collection of stories from one of America's finest writers, with a new Introduction by Patrick McGrath.
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Jessica rated it:

(review of isbn 0374516812)

08/05/08

bookshelves: short-stories

In mentioning Shirley Jackson's name, I have found that there is a surprising number of people who have never heard of her, nor "The Lottery," her most famous short story. It's a shame that she remains in the margins of the American canon, while the more prettier and flashier writers such as Sylvia Plath get all the attention. Although Jackson's stories hold a deeply cynical view of the world, she also reveals compassion and empathy for other people's suffering that is missing from her...more In mentioning Shirley Jackson's name, I have found that there is a surprising number of people who have never heard of her, nor "The Lottery," her most famous short story. It's a shame that she remains in the margins of the American canon, while the more prettier and flashier writers such as Sylvia Plath get all the attention. Although Jackson's stories hold a deeply cynical view of the world, she also reveals compassion and empathy for other people's suffering that is missing from her more popular counterparts, whose writings display a self-centered and narcissistic attitude.

In The Lottery and Other Stories, the main characters are not heroes, nor are they risk-takers of any sort; they wake up to go to work, they run errands, and they greet new neighbors. Yet, a feeling of dread looms over these ordinary, domestic activities. The stories often end abruptly and without resolution, heightening the sense of unease. Nowhere does the juxtaposition of the banal and the horrible make itself more apparent than in the title story. During the initial publication of "The Lottery", the story so offended readers that The New Yorker dealt with a flood of complaints and canceled subscriptions. Other curious readers speculated about the meaning of the story.

When asked to elaborate, Jackson responded:

"Explaining just what I had hoped the story to say is very difficult. I suppose, I hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to shock the story's readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives."

A thread of "general inhumanity" runs through "The Lottery" and also in her lesser-known stories, often manifested as apathy for other people's suffering or placing one's reputation above other people's worth. They are often perpetrated with little remorse, and even with a bit of glee. Neighbors describe in gory detail how they would torture and kill the protagonist's dog in "The Renegade," all while laughing and joking about it. In "Like Mother Used to Make," David, the only male protagonist in the story collection, lets his dubious friend Marcia take over his clean, beautiful apartment to entertain her guest. She uses many of his prized dishes, and leaves them for him to wash. Her guest lights up a cigar, and she fails to object on David's behalf. She even goes as far as taking credit for the delicious cherry pie he baked. Eventually, she kicks him out of his own apartment for an evening tryst. In "Trial by Combat," Emily works up the nerve to confront her neighbor Mrs. Allen, a genteel old woman, whom she suspects of breaking into her home and stealing her possessions. Mrs. Allen denies it, and remains unrepentant even when Emily finds the stolen items in the old woman's dresser drawer. In essence, Jackson leaves us with the strong impression that the world fails to rectify wrongs.

Jackson also explored inhumanity on a larger scale; that of institutional racism in small-town America, most notably in "Flower Garden." Mrs. MacLane, the new tenant of a quaint little cottage, scandalizes the neighborhood when she hires a black man, Mr. Jones, to tend her garden. As the garden becomes more beautiful under the charge of Mr. Jones, the townspeople actions become uglier. Uncomfortable with the conspicuous presence of a black man in their neighborhood, and puzzled by Mrs. MacLane's tolerant treatment of her gardener, they begin to talk behind her back. They start with comments about her clothes. Although they are seemingly trifling comments, they effectively mark her as an outsider. One neighbor laughs, "Just couldn't believe those shoes of hers, first time I seen them. Them shoes!" Then they move on to making insinuations about her and Mr. Jones' relationship. A long-time resident chimes in, "He's there every blessed day...working out there without his shirt on. He goes in the house." In the end, they ostracize her completely, expressed by a neighbor's final contemptuous gesture towards Mrs. MacLane greeting:

"Mrs. Winning swung around without speaking and started, with great dignity, back up the hill toward the old Winning house."

Jackson's critical attitude towards institutional racism shows her willingness to take an unpopular stance on a controversial issue. In addition, her observations on the way people casually mistreat one another shows an understanding to what it's like to not quite belong. She gives a resoute voice to those who reside squarely in the sidelines.

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2 comments

Jamie rated it:

(review of isbn 0374529531)

08/12/08

The Lottery is lauded as being an example of the perfect short story. Having not defined what "perfect" means in relations to the literary form of short stories, I can't really say whether or not I agree. However, The Lottery was extremely interesting. Jackson skillfully sets dread and curiosity up as two opposing forces that will inevitably intersect, meanwhile you're caught in the middle where the tension is tangibly building. The setting is an innocuous village where everyone is pre...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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Todd rated it:

(review of isbn 0374529531)

08/08/08

Read in March, 2007

recommends it for: almost anybody

Shirley Jackson is my favorite author. I love her short stories in particular, where she creates scenarios where everything might seem cozy and normal and very laid-back for about 2 minutes. Then she moves over into mankind's sneakier nature, which for the suthor is either a very amusing thing or a very frigtening thing. And always a surprise. I liked the short story "The Lottery" a lot, but my favorites in this collection are "Like My Mother Used to Make" and "Tri...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

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The Lottery and Other Stories (Modern Library)

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