Compare and Contrast Fiction Essay - the Use of Symbolism in “the Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “the Rocking Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence

Compare and Contrast Fiction Essay

Tiffany Thompson

Liberty University

ENGL

102-B53

Professor L. Spivey

February 8, 2016

Thesis Statement and Outline

Thesis Statement: The use of symbolism in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence helps to create an understanding of each short story’s theme; however each of the story’s theme is contrasting, one of a quest for love and the other is a lack thereof.

1. Use of Symbolism in “The Lottery” and “The Rocking Horse Winner” to convey theme

1. “the black box” as a symbol of the lost meaning of the villager’s tradition in “The Lottery”

1. “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago.” The villagers were willing to let go of some parts of the lottery and never question why, but they never thought about changing or getting rid of the lottery itself.
2. “The black box grew shabbier each year.” Describes the villager’s non-interest in replacing the box. The box has already lost its original meaning.
3. Black box only had significance once a year and afterwards, was kept in different locations throughout the village

1. “the whispering house” and “rocking horse” as symbols of greed getting one nowhere in “The Rocking Horse Winner”

1. “There must be more money.” Whispered by the house when money was spent on flashy items that the family could not afford. For example, they had servants but no car.
2. Paul thought he could stop the whispers if he proved himself “lucky.”
3. Paul needed more money now. However, Paul could no longer “know” from his “rocking horse.”

1. Contrasting themes found in each of the short stories, despite both authors use of symbolism to convey theme

1. A lack of love through persecution is the theme presented by the villagers in “The Lottery”

1. The villagers unquestioning acceptance of a custom, because it is what is expected
2. The villagers refuse to abandon the custom despite the loss of its meaning
3. The villagers are teaching the next generation to lack compassion

1. The theme of “The Rocking Horse Winner” is a quest for love

1. Paul is desperate for his mother’s love and thinks he must prove himself “lucky” to receive her love.
2. Paul sacrificed his life to for his mother. He risked everything to prove his “luck” and give her riches, which ultimately led to his death.

Compare and Contrast Fiction Essay

Both the words “lottery” and “rocking horse” normally bring to mind something of enjoyment or pleasure. A reader normally pictures a positive outcome or happy ending just from reading the words. However, the readers of two particular short stories containing these words will get quite the opposite ending. The use of symbolism in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence helps to create a better understanding of each short story’s theme; however each of the story’s theme is contrasting, one of a quest for love and the other is a lack thereof.

        In “The Lottery” and “The Rocking Horse Winner”, both authors make use of symbolism to indirectly convey the central message or theme of each short story. Jackson’s use of a “black box” is symbolic of the villagers lost meaning of an age old tradition. The “black box” was not the original box of the tradition.  In fact, as Jackson states, “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago,” just as the original meaning of the tradition has also been lost (2013, pp.71). Throughout the years, the replacement “black box” has “grew shabbier” (Jackson, pp.71), but the people of the village have shown no interest in replacing it, just as they are unwilling to let go of the lottery. Also, the “black box” only carries significance once a year and then it is kept away in different locations throughout the village. Its purpose, like the lottery, has become lost over the years. The villagers are willing to change and forget some things about the traditional lottery to suit the changing needs of the town, but not the lottery itself even though its essential meaning has been lost. In the same fashion, Lawrence uses a “whispering house” and “rocking horse” to symbolize greed getting a person nowhere in life. In “The Rocking Horse Winner,” the house hauntingly whispers, “There must be more money” (Lawrence, 2010, pp. 174), whenever money is spent on extravagant items that the family cannot afford. To a person looking in, the family seems well off. Lawrence notes, “They lived in a pleasant house, with a garden, and they had discreet servants, and felt themselves superior to anyone in the neighborhood” (pp. 174). Yet, the family has no car.  It is the mother’s greed and need for materialistic things that leads Paul to think he could stop the whispers of the house by proving himself “lucky” to her. However, after giving his mother his wealth and then finding that she needs more money for materialistic possessions, he finds that he has only intensified the mantra of the “whispering house.”  Paul now needs more money than ever, but his greed for more has made it where he can no longer “know” the winner of the race just by riding his rocking horse. His labor of providing for his mother and proving his luck begins consuming him physically and emotionally. Still, he rides the horse faster and longer into a maddening rage, which ultimately leads to his demise.

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