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The Veldt/The Lottery
The Veld and The Lottery are two different pieces of literature that differ in terms of genre, topics, authors, characters, etc. However, both stories have hidden meanings, essential themes, and certain symbols that drive the reader to reflect upon them. None of the pieces have a regular happy ending, which adds a layer of complexity and originality. Both The Veldt and The Lottery are stories that dive deep into the topic of human nature, traditionalism vs. modernization, and the notion of family that can have various meanings and aspects. Furthermore, The Veldt and The Lottery challenge the reader to reflect upon topics such as traditions, modern technology, family, and humanity.
The Lottery
The Lottery is Shirley Jackson’s short story that was published in 1948. It is considered one of the most popular short stories, but there were many controversies regarding the subjects and topics it touches upon. It is set in a small American town that follows a ritual called “the lottery”. Each family participates, and based on the lottery results, one person ends up being stoned to death. This time, Tessie Hutchinson ended up being executed by the whole village in the name of the annual sacrifice.
The Main Themes
The Lottery touches upon many themes that subsequently relate to the overall meaning of the story. A crucial one is the contrasting harmony and violence that is portrayed by the writer. The action takes place in a quiet small town with beautiful flowers and children having fun (Jackson 1). This calmness and peaceful atmosphere give the reader, who does not expect the violent events that are going to happen, a sense of safety. The children were not just playing but collecting rocks that will then be used to stone a person to death. When the realization comes, the whole peaceful setting becomes irrelevant.
Tradition is the other theme that characterizes the story. The lottery is nothing but a tradition that is most advocated by the oldest person in the town. He suggests that without this ceremonial sacrifice, the town will suffer (Jackson 4). While some people know about other villages that do not follow the ritual anymore, no one is ready to get rid of the barbaric sacrifice that does not have any meaning to it. None of the participants are safe from being unlucky in the lottery, but no one is willing to protest against it. This suggests how powerful and stagnant some old values and traditions can be.
Gender roles hold significant importance in The Lottery. The main idea of the tradition is the heads of the families drawing the first pieces of paper from the box. When the man is not present at the ceremony, the older sons and the wife are next in the hierarchy. Bill Hutchinson, the father of the family, ends up jeopardizing his wife by drawing the marked piece of paper in the first round. While Tessie Hutchinson appears to be much more outspoken than her husband, she is not considered the head of the family.
Insights and Understanding
The Lottery was widely criticized for some of the topics portrayed by Jackson. The whole idea of human sacrifice being committed in present times was hard to swallow for many readers. The other problematic aspect was the feministic undertone of the story. Tessie Hutchinson, the main character, is the most outspoken participant in the lottery. The fact that she ends up being stoned to death suggests the incompatibility of feminism and traditional values. A strong woman is not a suitable fit for a patriarchal society, so the lottery has a bad outcome for her. The lottery symbolizes old traditions and values that are blindly followed, and there is no place for uniqueness or female individuality within this system.
Value
Literature that touches upon topics such as feminism, patriarchy, traditional values, and flowed systems holds value in terms of progress and innovation. The story was published in 1948, a time that was not necessarily linked to women’s emancipation. Jackson portrays a strong female that does not fit into the grand scheme of things, and fate ultimately kills her. The writer’s protest against old-school values and traditions is the most valuable thing about The Lottery and its legacy.
The Veldt
The Veldt is Ray Bradbury’s short story that was first published in 1950. In the story, a family deals with issues related to communication, understanding, and support. The Hadleys live in a technologically advanced home, and there is a room called the nursery, which provides virtual reality experiences for the children. The parents (George and Lydia) are concerned with their kids’ fantasies after encountering aggressive lions in the nursery (Bradbury 4). After the parents punish Peter and Wendy, the kids lock them inside the nursery with the animals, which causes their death.
The Main Themes
Consumerism and technological advancement are recurring themes throughout the author’s stories and novels, and The Veldt is no exception. The parents are almost useless as the house does everything for them, including entertaining, educating, and taking care of the children. In this reality, people are entirely reliant on technology for everything, which has a negative impact on their families. Since George and Lydia Hadley make no effort to spend time and engrain specific values into their kids, the children end up choosing technology. The nursery is more important to them because it seems more real than their own family.
Family values are distorted in Bradbury’s story. It is mentioned that the Hadleys are wholly reliant on the house for specific tasks, including taking care of the children. Peter and Wendy Hadley do not view the parents as valuable assets that improve their livelihood. Their values are twisted, preferring virtual reality to their mother and father. This is suggested by the fact that their final choice is to remain happy and contempt in the nursery after sacrificing the parents who are threatening to get rid of the source of their happiness.
Insights and Understanding
The Veldt is the author’s critique of the technology that replaces common human interactions and family values. This is contemplation upon possible future advancements that may interact with people on an emotional level, leaving them soulless and empty. The children in The Veldt portray the future generation that may be more advanced in terms of technology but primal when it comes to sentiments and emotions. While the parents seem to correlate with an older generation that can still objectively assess the danger of virtual reality, kids are drawn to modernization. This causes them to forget specific values that they have not even been taught due to lack of parental involvement.
Value
Literature that touches upon themes such as consumerist and possible dangers of modernization allows the reader to reflect on these topics. The value of such stories lies in the predisposed excitement in the face of technological advancement. However, there is a negative connotation that correlates with the new system. The author highlights that future can be connected to a sense of emptiness and lack of moral boundaries caused by overstimulation and isolation from human interaction. Such topics of discussion are valuable because they allow for a contrary point of view that differs from common beliefs.
Comparison
Both stories have a revolutionary subtext that is suggesting by the endings. Bu mentions that comparative reading gives a better understanding of the topic. By comparing the stories, it is certain that there are differences and similarities between the two. While Jackson argues that traditional values are outdated and, perhaps, dangerous, Bradbury views modernization as a path to moral and ethical degradation. Both authors use symbolism as a subtle way to influence the readers into contemplating upon the premises of the literature. Jackson’s black box symbolizes traditions that are useless in the modern world, and Bradbury’s nursery is a symbol of new parental care that does not actually involve parents.
The short stories both have tragic endings that reflect the authors’ points of view regarding traditionalism and modernization. In one instance, the only glimpse of hope, Tessie Hutchinson, ends up being sacrificed in the name of ancient values. On the other hand, George and Lydia Hadley are sacrificed by their children in the name of new values and a future where human life is less valuable than technology.
Conclusion
The Veldt and The Lottery are two seemingly different stories that feature opposite topics. However, both are challenging something that damages society and makes it heartless and soulless. Jackson is a supporter of new principles that would replace the old and unnecessary ones. However, Bradbury takes the role of the devil’s advocate, portraying the dangers that humanity is to endure if technology takes the place of fundamental human relationships and family values. Nevertheless, both The Veldt and The Lottery make the reader reflect on greater themes such as traditionalism, modernism, human nature, and family.
Works Cited
Bradbury, Ray. The Veldt. Simon & Schuster, 2012.
Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2005.
“How Books Can Open Your Mind”. YouTube, uploaded by TED. 2013. Web.
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