Ralph Ellison and Shirley Jackson - Essay Example

Ralph Ellison and Shirley Jackson al Affiliation) Introduction Different motifs of writing used by various keep inspiring students who engage on insights when reading and writing stories, plays, and poems. Writers like Shirley Jackson and Ralph Ellison bring a unique style of personal warmth and perspective in comprehensive writing. Many literary forms of writing are incorporated in Shirley Jackson books, and his overall style of writing is a relaxed tone, which presents the story as a source of getting entertained. One of the key features in writing is engaging the reader through different styles of writing, which are achievable by the writer indulging himself/herself endlessly with peculiarity, and no one can do anything when the author uses the motifs in the right manner. Shirley Jackson One of the main books of Shirley Jackson is The Lottery, which uses symbolism to bring out the play. According to Shirley Jackson, “The organization and structure of the story are written in chronological order thereby little interruptions. Major symbols in the story comprises of the lottery itself, people in the lottery, and tools used in the lottery (Bloom, 2001). The story is filled with symbolism and almost every element in the story represents something else, which the author wants to bring out. Such kind of motifs is the ones, which makes Shirley Jackson books interesting to read. The author also does not give all the answers to every question that arise making it challenging and enjoyable. These responded to questions to make the reader come up with their responses, which build the meaning of the story.” The lottery itself symbolizes an idea, which reflects the authentic traditions and rituals of the societies. Shirley Jackson considers such thing that makes no inherent sense but yet is in practice although it has no meaning. Such kind of traditions is meaningless and considered sinister traditions that will result in racism and sexism. An example of such traditions is cutting down trees and storing it in the house because it is the Christmas season. The lottery box is a symbol that appears in The Lottery. The box symbolizes the society and town because it is the only source of connection between the origin and the game. The box has been used although it is not the original box it is believed that pieces from the original box were used in making the box, but this is not sure (Jackson & Court, 2001). This symbol explains that tradition values cannot be questioned because they have moved beyond what things are done. Stoning. At the end of the story, execution is done in random choice, which has been practiced for ages and acts as a symbol and is derived from the Bible where early Christians were executed through stoning showing the execution of innocent souls. Another occasion of stoning in the Bible is when Jesus stopped the stoning of a woman by stating that he who has no sins should cast the first stone (Bloom, 2001). Stoning is an essential feature of the story because there is no even one executioner, meaning that no one should carry the load of passing judgment on one life. Stoning in The Lottery helps in making clear who is the enemy of the society. For stoning to be real, it needs a crowd to act, but in the story, the antagonist is not a one but the whole community. Another symbol in The Lottery is the author who is Shirley Jackson, a woman from America. She is an outstanding person who has helped in finding long-lasting traditions and considered vile as those in The Lottery traditions. This custom segregated different populations, led to infringement of voting rights, which exists because they have been there since old time. Such traditions are clearly illuminated by the author making the book her outstanding from rest of the writers. In the story, a woman is placed in the center as a critical factor in the lottery a symbol of somone who is a victim of a situation (Jackson & Court, 2001). This indicates that men are failing to protect the women and their rights and shows the victim of the lottery as someone who has been hurt by the traditions. Shirley Jackson as an author has used symbolism in bringing out what the society faces. This style has made her writing skills different from the rest. The Lottery is a relevant in symbolic use because they are not entirely explained making it interesting. Shirley Jackson short stories are outstanding are read everywhere in classroom meaning that they are successful in passing out the point in them. The motif in the stories does not forget the structure and organization make them the obvious reason they are considered the best. The style of the story i.e. how the story is presented makes it amazing. She is skilled at introducing irony into the stories right from the beginning and helps in making the reader understand that lottery is a common thing and exciting (Jackson & Court, 2001). The tone of the story and its style creates a notion of anticipating something good thus making the irony at the end of the story shocking. Shirley Jackson uses story structure in ensuring she present the story to the reader. The structure of the story is set from the beginning where the story starts with people doing the usual things. The story builds reader’s anticipation with a long segment then she introduces rituals and lottery in an unusual manner. The story presents a modernized lottery game and does not hint that the champion of the lottery will face death. In the story, it indicates how other towns have gotten rid of this game while other cities are pushing to have it creating irony in the story. At the end of the story, we come to understand the horrific nature of the lottery. Foreshadowing and Suspense are other motifs in the story that the author uses in her literary works. The end of the story is foreshadowed when the children take stones and place them in their pockets; they then pile the stones in the town square. This act seemed like a simple play until the stones through purposes are seen at the end of the story. The suspense in the story is seen when Shirley Jackson withholds information and does not want to reveal it (Jackson & Court, 2001). The nature of a lottery is not revealed until Tessies head is hit by a stone; we now learn of tradition values towards lottery, how the lottery is important to top villagers particularly Warner. The prize of the lottery, what the lottery is all about or the purpose of the lottery is not mentioned. Shirley Jackson famous work makes her outstanding than other authors. She started writing in the 1950s, but her work is still appreciated in the current world. Shirley is remembered for unsettling novels and fictional stories that amaze, surprises many readers and make them understand their national sides (Bloom, 2001). Ralph Ellison Ralph Ellison published stories using an authoritative tone that show the influence of the blacks in the American culture. Also, it displays the impact of blacks in the American culture through different factors like racial history, caste. Such a writer had an impact on writing and thus considered an important writer. His book took great strides and was seen to serve a public gesture to the society. During his creative act of serving as a lecturer and having an impact on Black Aesthetic, Ralph faced many hostilities. The Blacks Power almost buried Ellison reputation when he encountered with impolite black students who had refused to agree neither with him nor with being called black instead of Negro (Ellison & Callahan, 1995). Ralph Ellison was the best author since early days to now, his book Invisible Man gained massive popularity and was considered untouchable. He was the first only African-American to win anything in a significant award i.e. National Book Award. His work was efficient and benefited much right from reawakening of folklore in Black. Although Ralph died in 1994, he is still considered as a cultural treasures father for generations of black militants and former activists who pushed for jazz, blues, and black literature to be made virile subjects. The novel Invisible Man is considered a perfect one and he did not want to risk producing a book, which may end up not measuring the level of Invisible Man. Publishing of only one book became a distinct drama for Ralph Ellison, which made hi stand out from rest of authors. In the novel, one of the cherished themes is allegory, which explained on the complexity of the Negros. The author wanted people to be read the book on their terms. In some cases, he used his biography in exploring irreversibility of different cultural traditions which most of the blacks, whites, or Americas did not appreciate (Ellison, 1995). During Ralph Ellison formative years, he stated that there were more to the lives of black people. To him this was a great misunderstanding about the black people, which made his life and writing different from other black writers. Critics argue Ralph Ellison, “The author of the story invisible Man in the late 1940s, came up with a new fashion of style of the black protagonist. In the story, it was clear that the blacks have come up with their traditions, rituals that resulted in a complex and cohesive kind of society and culture that brought out a sense of identity. When the protagonist in the story encounters with a yam seller on the streets of the town, he remembers his childhood memories and proclaims that embracing ones culture is an important thing.” The protagonist was aware of his self because in case he was uneducated and inarticulate, the results could be faced in the society that had oppressed him. Ralph Ellison in his view outlined that the culture of African-American was different from what is shown in pictures drawn by politicians, writers, and sociologists (Ellison & Callahan, 1995). Ralph Ellison novel was seen as a protest script, which may be due to the brutal childhood, which he spent in Deep South, Oklahoma. This part had little legal enforcements, but he succeeded from this humble beginning. A different essential feature between black separatists and white protestors is that it created a platform for every person to discover himself or herself and led to the creation of space for the invention of African-American culture. His view on different culture was inextricably every part of Americans life were impacted by the presence of the African Americans. Ralph Ellison kind of writing enhanced the society’s respect for different cultures and prevented the rise of racism or sexism. The mood of the novel is a paranoid atmosphere not forgetting nostalgia. The author writes the story as someone who has grown up knowing that any person they encounter with will do something to him. In the book, the author seems to be able to communicate easily with the American society, unlike the whites. Ralph Ellison has also incorporated a sense of paternalism and anti-communism, which indicates change after the war (Ellison, 1995). This was indicated by the change in the image. The novel having many political ideas does not show any sympathy for any violent behaviors and detrimental cultural values. The book brings out a sense of patience in the author in saving the great stock of ideas and observations to be used in the composition. The novel has incidents from real events, but not a transcription of experience. The events appear clearly like inventions and fantastic that one can read them as a case study. The author did not need to pretend that the novel symbolized life and expressions that despised realism (Ellison & Callahan, 1995). The author is a perfectionist in his knowledge of styles and concepts about novel writing. He uses lavish, ostentatious displays to build the story of someone recalling his spiritual fog. Idioms in the book are clear and perfection as if they were obtained from musical memory. Ralph Ellison and Shirley Jackson writing process were effective in ensuring respect for different people cultures and values. No individual should discriminate on another by color, race, tribe, or ethnicity. The two author’s stories are appreciated at this time because of the quality information it carries. Shirley Jackson story elaborates on this by disagreeing with misleading traditions and cultures that are often practiced, but have no impact on the human life. Stoning of people due to their inability or outstanding capabilities is unlawful to act and should be discouraged. Her stories are not only entertaining, but also carry out useful lessons to the society. Execution of a person is not right, and no man is required to take away someone’s life, such people practicing executions should be considered an enemy of the society as per the Lottery. Ralph Ellison in his novel is regarded as an effective writer because of the contribution he brings to the Black people living in America. This is promoting equality and standing for rights of the minority. Such novels will keep being popular because of the valuable lessons they carry. They are competent writers because their writings have brought impact to different factors in the society. Although these factors may still be a challenge in the modern world their levels, have significantly reduced. Their works will still live and stand for most people who are faced with racism, sexism, or infringement of their rights.Ralph Ellison in his novel depicted a different picture of black people. American writers described the Black in different people; this was an unusual case for Ralph Ellison writings. This kind of efforts was important in displaying different culture and values rather than causing discrimination and racism. References Bloom, H. (2001). Shirley Jackson. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House. Ellison, R. (1995). Invisible man. New York: Vintage International. Ellison, R., & Callahan, J. (1995). The collected essays of Ralph Ellison. New York: Modern Library. Jackson, S., & Court, R. (2001). Shirley Jackson collected short stories. Mankato, MN: Peterson Pub. Read More