A comparison of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery".
Written in 2008; 1,350 words; 6 sources; MLA; $ 45.95
Paper Summary:
This paper examines the similarities, in terms of evil and wickedness, between the book "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. The paper explains that in both works, the reader is forced to consider whether wickedness and evil are outside sources that influence the people or, conversely, if evil and wickedness are inside every human being. The paper then looks at how both authors force the reader to consider what actions constitute evil and wickedness, particularly where social normalcy and self-preservation are involved. The paper also suggests that the texts vary in terms of community and social ties as an avenue of evil; "The Lottery" depicts social tradition and normalcy as an opportunity for seemingly senseless violence, while "Heart of Darkness" calls on human kinship as a way to avoid evil and corruption. The paper concludes that in addressing these complex issues, both Conrad and Jackson grapple with the same concerns: the perception of evil and its relationship with being human.
From the Paper:
"Evil and wickedness are often talked about as an external force since people do not like to admit that they are capable of evil and wickedness. Instead, many like to believe that evil is an outside force that makes people do things or, at worst, an occasional individual who has become evil after being affected by such forces. For example, Neilson describes Kurtz when the "darkest element has taken control" (41). Does this imply that Kurtz is no longer himself and that a greater force is responsible for his acts? A similar quandary exists in "The Lottery." After reaching the end of the story, the reader has gotten to know the characters in Jackson's story. They seem to be normal, average citizens. How, then, can they be part of the brutal lottery ritual if some outside force is not acting upon them?"
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