The Lottery Comparison of Tradition

Margaret Urquhart Professor Daniels ENC1102 15 March 2013 An Outrageous Tale Standing in line for hours, impatiently waiting for the front doors of our favorite stores to open, to be nearly trampled upon for discounted items, is a tradition we, as Americans, like to call Black Friday. Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. To get people in the spirit, most major retailers open before the sun comes up and offers promotional sales to kick off the holiday shopping season.Americans consider â€Å"getting in the spirit,† by waking at the crack of dawn to pry items out of other people’s hands while at the same time getting pushed and shoved by crazy amounts of people on the same hunt. We call a tradition; a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance that has origin from the past. Black Friday is the one tradition that I thought was the worst until reading â€Å"The Lottery,† by Shirley Jackson. Jackson uses irony to suggest an underlying evil, hypocrisy, and weakness of human kind.Jackson shows many important lessons about human nature in this short story including barbaric traditions in a supposedly civilized village, the community’s hypocrisy, and how violence and cruelty take place. â€Å"The Lottery† tells the story of an annual tradition in a small village, where the people are close and tradition is paramount. The Lottery is a yearly event in which one person in the town is randomly chosen, by a drawing, to be violently stoned by friends and family.The villagers don’t really know much about the lottery’s origin but try to preserve the tradition nevertheless; they believed that someone had to be sacrificed to insure a good crop. â€Å"Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon,† said Old Man Warner. The villagers allow an outdated tradition to run their liv es and control whether they live or die. The black box symbolizes death; the name of the â€Å"winner† to be stoned is drawn from the box at every lottery, it represents tradition in the fact that it is old and worn.It has been in existence seemingly forever and though there is talk of replacing it, the reader can infer that there will be no such change. The villagers are aware that the sacrifice is inhumane but none want to stand and voice their opinion because they are afraid of how it may affect their lives. â€Å"The lottery† has been practiced in this town for such a long time that it makes tradition so powerful, it’s like a force of nature, and the people of the village can’t imagine rebelling against it.The black box represents tradition in aspects to it being old; the characters mention that they did not want to get rid of the old box because it was made of splinters of the original box. The town is so focused on how things were and how things hav e always been that they cannot see any new or improved ways of living. Nevertheless, the lottery continues simply because there has always been a lottery. In â€Å"The Lottery,† the idea of hypocrisy is seen throughout the story. This theme is evident by the tradition of the lottery itself as well as the characters’ actions.The theme of hypocrisy is often attached to the idea of religion. Mr. Adams questions the traditions of the lottery and Mr. Summers says, â€Å"There’s always been a lottery,† and that it would be â€Å"nothing but trouble. † With these statements I feel that this tradition has been around for such a long time that if they were to get rid of it, in return it would turn the town upside down and the villagers wouldn’t know how to react to not having it. They keep the tradition alive yet they create nothing but trouble in determining who dies. The character Mrs. Hutchinson’s best friend, Mrs.Delacroix, is one of the f irst to casually discuss the lottery and in contrast she is the first to pick up a rock to stone her so called friend. Jackson’s use of such a tradition and these everyday characters demonstrates how hypocritical we are in society and is cautioning readers to questions those ideas set in stone. Shirley Jackson shows us that violence is a part of human nature, and that it can be disguised in many ways. The setting of the story is seemingly civilized and peaceful, while the stoning is a cruel and brutal act. This shows us that horrifying acts of violence can take place anywhere at any time, by ordinary citizens.Violence and cruelty are a major theme because we do not live in a â€Å"perfect† world where nothing bad ever goes wrong; there is violence and cruelty all around us. We see human cruelty in its worst form because there is no excuse for it. Jackson's example illustrates how mankind can become a victim to its own mindless traditions. For example, one child in the story was depicted this way: â€Å"Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example. †(Jackson 194) This quote shows how people are mindless followers just because everyone else is doing it.This strange tale is twisted in ways that show us so much about human nature and the way we are in society. The themes that are unraveled throughout the story are shocking, teaching us about human nature on a different level. People live by the term, â€Å"If everyone else is doing it, then I should too. † This shows how even though the tradition has been going on for so long, no one actually knows when it originated; they only continue it because it’s the tradition of the town. The violence and cruelty that comes into play is brutal in the sense that Mrs.Hutchinson’s friends were the first to stone her and not have any problem with it, which shows the hypocrisy of human beings. The people of the town disguise th e evil tradition of the lottery by following orders without asking any questions. Getting pushed and shoved in line for long hours for an item is a tradition that we should not have in America anymore, but still do because everyone does it. In the same sense, dying is drastically worse than getting pushed and shoved; they can’t stop the tradition of â€Å"The Lottery† because it’s what everyone in town does.

Contract law Essay Example

Contract law Essay Example Contract law Essay Contract law Essay CONTRACT is a valid contract which lacks legal sufficiency due, for example, to incorrect or incomplete following of a required or statutory procedure, and may not be enforceable by the courts. Four Classifications of Defective Contract : 1. Rescission Contract Declaration or clearly communicated intention by a party to a avoidable contract that it is exercising its right to terminate (rescind) the contract. It is an irrevocable step that frees the other party as well from its contractual obligations, as if the contract never existed. Rescission may be on mutual consent, by an act of law, or by either party for reasonable cause such as a material misrepresentation. 2. Avoidable Contract Unlike a void contract, is a valid contract. At most, one party to the contract is bound. The unbound party may repudiate the contract, at which time the contract is void. 3. Unenforceable Contract Valid contract that cannot be fully enforced due to some technical defect. It has some legal consequences which may not be enforced in an action for images or specific performance in the face of certain defenses including the statute of frauds. . Void Contract Void contract cannot be enforced by law. Void contracts are different from avoidable contracts, which are contracts that may be (but not necessarily will be) nullified. However, when a contract is being written and signed, there is no automatic mechanism available in every situation that can be utilized to detect the validity or enforceability of that contract. Practically, a contr act can be declared to be void by a court of law.

About The Deadly Tangshan Earthquake

About The Deadly Tangshan Earthquake At 3:42 a.m. on July 28, 1976, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the sleeping city of Tangshan, in northeastern China. The very large earthquake, striking an area where it was totally unexpected, obliterated the city of Tangshan and killed over 240,000 people - making it the deadliest earthquake of the twentieth century. Fireballs and Animals Give Warning Though scientific earthquake prediction is in its nascent stages, nature often gives some advance warning of an impending earthquake. In a village outside of Tangshan, well water reportedly rose and fell three times the day before the earthquake. In another village, gas began to spout out the water well on July 12 and then increased on July 25th and 26th. Other wells throughout the area showed signs of cracking. Animals also gave a warning that something was about to happen. One thousand chickens in Baiguantuan refused to eat and ran around excitedly chirping. Mice and yellow weasels were seen running around looking for a place to hide. In one household in the city of Tangshan, a goldfish began jumping wildly in its bowl. At 2 a.m. on July 28, shortly before the earthquake struck, the goldfish jumped out of its bowl. Once its owner had returned him to his bowl, the goldfish continued to jump out of its bowl until the earthquake hit.1 Strange? Indeed. These were isolated incidents, spread across a city of a million people and a countryside scattered with villages. But nature gave additional warnings. The night preceding the earthquake, July 27-28, many people reported seeing strange lights as well as loud sounds. The lights were seen in a multitude of hues. Some people saw flashes of light; others witnessed fireballs flying across the sky. Loud, roaring noises followed the lights and fireballs. Workers at the Tangshan airport described the noises as louder than that of an airplane.2 The Earthquake Strikes When the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tangshan at 3:42 a.m. on July 28, over a million people lay sleeping, unaware of the disaster that was to befall them. As the earth began to shake, a few people who were awake had the forethought to dive under a table or other heavy piece of furniture, but most were asleep and did not have time. The entire earthquake lasted approximately 14 to 16 seconds. Once the quake was over, the people who could, scrambled out into the open, only to see the entire city levelled. After an initial period of shock, the survivors began to dig through debris to answer the muffled calls for help as well as find loved ones still under rubble. As injured people were saved from under the rubble, they were lain on the side of the road. Many of the medical personnel were also trapped under debris or killed by the earthquake. The medical centers were destroyed as well as the roads to get there. Survivors were faced with no water, no food, and no electricity. All but one of the roads into Tangshan was undrivable. Unfortunately, relief workers accidentally clogged the one remaining road, leaving them and their supplies stuck for hours in the traffic jam. People needed help immediately; survivors could not wait for help to arrive. Survivors formed groups to dig for others. They set up medical areas where emergency procedures were conducted with the minimum of supplies. They searched for food and set up temporary shelters. Though 80 percent of the people trapped under rubble were saved, a 7.1 magnitude aftershock that hit in the afternoon of July 28 sealed the fate for many who had been waiting under the rubble for help. After the earthquake hit, 242,419 people lay dead or dying, along with another 164,581 people who were severely injured. In 7,218 households, all members of the family were killed by the earthquake. Corpses were buried quickly, usually close to the residences in which they perished. This later caused health problems, especially after it rained and the bodies were again exposed. Workers had to find these impromptu graves, dig up the bodies, and then move and rebury the corpses outside of the city.3 Damage and Recovery Before the 1976 earthquake, scientists didnt think Tangshan was susceptible to a large earthquake; thus, the area was zoned an intensity level of VI on the Chinese intensity scale (similar to the Mercalli scale). The 7.8 earthquake that hit Tangshan was given an intensity level of XI (out of XII). The buildings in Tangshan were not built to withstand such a large earthquake. Ninety-three percent of residential buildings and 78 percent of industrial buildings were completely destroyed. Eighty percent of the water pumping stations were seriously damaged and the water pipes were damaged throughout the city. Fourteen percent of the sewage pipes were severely damaged. The foundations of bridges gave way, causing the bridges to collapse. Railroad lines bent. Roads were covered with debris as well as riddled with fissures. With so much damage, recovery was not easy. Food was a high priority. Some food was parachuted in, but the distribution was uneven. Water, even just for drinking, was extremely scarce. Many people drank out of pools or other locations that had become contaminated during the earthquake. Relief workers eventually got water trucks and others to transport clean drinking water into the affected areas. After the emergency care was given, the rebuilding of Tangshan began almost immediately. Though it took time, the entire city was rebuilt and is again home to over a million people, earning Tangshan the name Brave City of China. Notes 1. Chen Yong, et al, The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster (New York: Pergamon Press, 1988) 53.2. Yong, Great Tangshan 53.3. Yong, Great Tangshan 70. Bibliography Ash, Russell. The Top 10 of Everything, 1999. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1998. Yong, Chen, et al. The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster. New York: Pergamon Press, 1988.

Writing for Your Audience

Writing for Your Audience Writing for Your Audience Writing for Your Audience By Erin Im an editor and moderator at Toasted Cheese, a literary magazine and writing community. Recently, one of our members posted a question that I thought was worth addressing here. Hed turned in a college paper, and his professor told him he needed to create more distance from the reader. It all comes down, I think, to keeping your intended audience in mind. In my college writing class, I teach my students to adjust their style according to the assignment. In a personal narrative, for example, an informal tone is welcome. In a research paper, however, that same informal tone can work against the writer. Here are a few general tips: Reserve first person for informal writing like personal narratives, blogs, editorials and columns, and of course, fiction. Avoid addressing the reader (you) and speaking for the reader (we/us), except in informal writing. Both practices run the risk of alienating the reader. Avoid contractions and slang. Ive actually had students who have used curse words and colloquial expressions (bros before hos) in papers theyve turned in to me! Unless it serves a clear purpose, its not going to impress anyone. Be specific, and dont include unsubstantiated claims in formal papers. Research papers need evidence and quotations to back up the authors thesis. Before you begin any piece of writing, ask yourself three questions: What is my purpose? (What do I hope to accomplish with this piece?) Who is my audience? (Who am I writing this for?) And finally, what is the appropriate tone for the writing Im doing? (Formal? Informal? Humorous? Serious?) If you can answer those questions, youll be well on your way to writing appropriately for your audience. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for Money75 Synonyms for â€Å"Talk†Types of Plots

Internet Radio Station Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internet Radio Station - Essay Example Internet radio stations present an array of choices for audiences with specialized taste in music. Depending on one’s mood, one can easily access an internet radio station and choose a specific program that will suit his/her taste. In addition, there are few advertisements in internet radio, which means that more music is played on the airtime. What I primarily disliked about internet radio is the lack of live DJs who introduce and comment on the songs. Although radio is traditionally a one-way form of communication, the presence of live DJs in them gives the medium a human dimension. Internet radio, in contrast, felt mechanical; it can be likened to listening to a CD or recorded music that is, once in a while, interrupted by canned voices and advertisements. I will definitely listen to that station again because it plays 80s music which I really like and cannot find readily on traditional radio. The program offers an extensive music collection which shows the upbeat and energetic vibe of the 80s. Listening to that radio station reminds me of a lot of things about the 80s. In addition, I will listen to internet radio again because the medium offers immediacy, which is not possible in traditional radio. Whatever type of music I want to listen to anytime can be found on the internet. In traditional radio, sometimes one has to make a request in order for his/her favorite song to get played. Although internet radio does not receive request from audiences, it offers a huge collection of specialized music which can be accessed

Retailers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Retailers - Essay Example : 1). The Giant Coca-Cola Bottle on Nanjing Road magazine ad is a particular example of trying to penetrate another type of audience, which the company has not entered in the past. It is a common rationale for big and small retailers to gain more market share and bigger income by coming up with advertisements that can draw consumer attention to their respective products (Making Sense of Advertisements- What is the Ad Trying to Do?: 1). While most of the advertisements by Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper have achieved the goals they were created for, some magazine ads by the said companies however were not effective; like the Coca-Cola â€Å"Surfer† Advertisement, the Coca-Cola â€Å"Lemon† Advertisement, the Pepsi â€Å"Lemon Twist† Advertisement, the Pepsi â€Å"Climbing† Advertisement, the Dr. Pepper Iron Man 2 Cans and the Dr. Pepper Free 20oz. at Murphy USA Advertisement. The Coca-Cola â€Å"Surfer† and â€Å"Lemon† Advertisements lack col or and the designs were mediocre; not enough to have an impact to inspire interest. On the other hand, the Pepsi â€Å"Lemon Twist† and â€Å"Climbing† advertisements are both gross and mind-boggling respectively. Such ads make the consumer wonder unnecessarily what the ads mean in connection with the product. The Dr. Pepper Iron Man 2 Cans and Free 20oz.

Company Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Company Law - Essay Example This is because ethical policies and codes of practice may only be seen as guidelines and at any given time, a company or a member of the board may do what is more beneficial to them rather than to do what is most ethical. If policies were enough to manage corporate governance, there would be no need for governments and regulatory bodies to make the laws necessary to keep corporate and personal greed in check. For instance, environmental degradation is a very important topic for the world today and governments as well as non governmental organisations are looking at various ways and means by which they can help the environment (Green, 2005). However, corporations often have to be forced through regulations and laws to minimize their impact on the environment (Schulte, 2006). Had a code of practice which encourages social responsibility been enough, no board member of a company could have agreed to a policy of the company which damages the environment regardless of the profits that could be made. It is only when the profits of a company are at risk when it can be made to apply the rules of good corporate governance. For example, Apple Inc. was forced to change the packaging for its famous iPod since Greenpeace objected to the amount of waste material that came with the iPod. Fearing angry customers, Apple altered the packaging to make environmentally friendly (Planque, 2006) When Steve Jobs (the CEO of the company) launched a new version of the product he focused on the subject and said, â€Å"Weve got some new packaging for the new Nano as well. And its 52% less volume. This turns out to be an environmentally great thing. Because it dramatically reduces the amount of fossil fuels we have to spend to move these things around the planet (Planque, 2006, Pg. 1)†. Of course, Apple could have changed the packaging and made it environmentally friendly from the start but only a threat of lost sales moved it to do so.