Enduring The Test Of Time: The Chrysanthemums and The Lottery Essay

Endures the test of time

According to the 18th-century scholar, author, and critic Samuel Johnson, "Nothing can please many, and please long, but just representations of general nature" ("Preface to Shakespeare," p. 210). By this Johnson means that no literature will endure the test of time except that which reveals and explores situations and characteristics that are recognizable, that most of us share, that are common to people across boundaries of time and (to some extent) place. I have chosen two short stories, one to relate to the quote by Johnson and another to challenge this quote. The first story, Chrysanthemums, by John Steinbeck exhibits this quality well; and the second is The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, it on the other hand is least representative of common experience. Although it may not be a common experience, the story is still effective to the reader.

The Chrysanthemums, is a perfect example of a short story that exhibits this quality of being a just representation of general nature. The main character Elisa Allen struggles with herself to become something more than her current life. During the time period of when this story was written, marriage limited a womens potential far more than in todays society. When a traveling salesman came to her home, she asked about his life and responded by saying, It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things. (Steinbeck 231) Elisa wants excitement and adventure in her life; she wants to feel important in the world. Everyday is the same for Elisa, It was a hard-swept looking little house with hard-polished windows, and a clean mud-mat on the front steps. (Steinbeck 227) Elisa has the ability to produce beautiful things; she wishes to use that ability on something other than her flowers. Youve got a gift with things, Her husband said about her flowers. I wish youd work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big. (Steinbeck 227) Elisa was excited about what her husband said, only to find out he was joking. Elisa fears not having the chance to live out her dream. This is why the salesman is so interesting to her. She sees his life as exciting and idealizes it. Elisa has a good husband and home, but like many other women during this time she wants a more important existence. This is why this story represents a common experience for many people.

Even though Elisa is a female and the story takes place in the early 1900s, there are themes that many readers could relate to on simply a human level. A reader may not need to be a woman to relate to the feelings and emotions communicated. Many people today struggle with feelings of dissatisfaction with their career choices, spouses, or the importance of their existence. These themes transcend through decades and the societal and technological changes that have resulted. Because of this, The Chrysanthemums will continue to connect with readers as a just representation of general nature.

Unlike The Chrysanthemums, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson in present day traditions and life is not a representation of general nature. A tradition such as the one preformed in the story is inhumane and should not be a common experience to anyone. At the beginning the mood seemed happy and story may seem common to the reader; the setting is in a village with school students in a boisterous play, some of the boys filled their pockets with stones, selecting the roundest and smoothest stones, eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against raids of other boys. (Jackson 247) Soon, after the beginning the mood changes a little creating an effect of eeriness. What is the lottery, a lottery for money? The lottery was conducted as were the square dances, the teenage club, and the Halloween program by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. (Jackson, 248) In paragraph 4, the reader starts to see that in present day, this type of community is no longer common. Another reason to show the story is outdated is the use of a black box and slips of paper, like a drawing to conduct a lottery. Today, people use automated systems to make lotteries honest and official. Jackson gave little to no details about what the lottery entails, but when Mr. Summers said, Some of you fellows want to give me a hand, and there was nothing but hesitation; the reader would think with a lottery giving away gifts or money, the townsfolk would love to help. (248) The reader might ask himself, is there something wrong with the lottery?

The following paragraph shows the reader how a lottery like this one is no longer common in our society. As the drawing for the lottery starts to commence, the reader detects the characters moods changing from happy to worried and nervous.

Im drawing for mmother and me, a boy said and he blinked his eyes nervously. A sudden hush fell on the crowd, the people were quiet, wetting their lips, and not looking around. A man in the crowd said, that over in the north village theyre talking of giving up the lottery. An old man who had been participating in the lottery for seventy-seven years said, pack of crazy fools, listening to the young folks, nothings good enough for them. Next think you know, theyll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon. Theres always been a lottery. (Jackson 250)

Mrs. Hutchinson shouted, it wasnt fair! Shut up, her husband said. (Jackson 250) A space cleared around Mrs. Hutchinson, she was the winner of the lottery. If this was a representation of general nature, shed be happy because shed rich; sadly, this was not the case. The crowd got their stones ready and moved in on her. A stone hit her in the side of the head, she screamed. (Jackson, 250)

The story ends and the reader is astonished. Did that really just happen? A whole town and her own family just stoned her to death? This reveals and explores situations and characteristics that are not recognizable, that most of us do not share, that are not common to people across boundaries of time and (to some extent) place.

Although this story is not common to the reader; the irony and suspense created in this story is makes the story still effective. How can the old man say what he said, and all the townsfolk dont already feel like a pack of fools? Todays reader may not be able to relate the story to a common experience but the story will still be remembered because of its effectiveness.

The Chrysanthemums and The Lottery, are two short stories that differ greatly from each other when related to a common experience. The Chrysanthemums will please many and please long, because it is a representation of general nature. The Lottery, on the other hand is not a common experience to the reader, but with Jacksons way of creating an emotional change in the readers mind. These stories will endure the test of time.

References:

Steinbeck, John. The Chrysanthemums. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 11th Ed. X. J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia. New York: Longman, 2010. 226-233. Print.

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 11th Ed. X. J. Kennedy, Dana Gioia. New York: Longman, 2010. 226-233. Print.