What Are The Similarities Between The Lottery And Everyday Use

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Comparison of “The Lottery” and “Everyday Use” I am comparing these two short stories because how different they are and yet some of the similarities they have. The difference is “Everyday Use” is a story based on women as dominating character and in “The Lottery” the men are the dominating character. The stories are different years but they both are about traditions and how they remembered how they came about. The similarities are their beliefs, culture, and rituals. The subject of the story is about what people think of the term “everyday use” and the differences around them mainly concerning the quilts. For Dee the quilts represent something to show off while Maggie wants to use them for warmth. “Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts!” “She’d …show more content…

Dee cares only about herself. After all, the story is about everyday use. The mother wants the quilts to be used. Dee (Wangero) looked at me with hatred. “You just will not understand. The point is these quilts, these quilts.”(385) Dee denies her real heritage while Maggie embraces her heritage and the remembrance of her ancestors. Dee changed her name to Wangero because she did not want to be associated with her aunt. Her mother wants to know why Dee changed her name to Wangero and her reply was, “She’s dead,” Wangero said. “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.” …show more content…

From this early point in the plot of “The Lottery” the reader thinks that this is a happy story that someone is about to win a great prize. This quote for instance “The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teenage club, and the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities”. (101)This makes the reader think that a town filled with fun and joyous celebrations. Then after getting further into the story it takes a terrifying twist. We as the readers learn what the lottery really is with a dark ending. There are three most dominant men who have power over the town, politically and economically, who happens manage the lottery. Mr. Summers had a coal business; Mr. Graves was the postmaster, and Mr. Martin had the grocery store. (101-102) Mr. Summers is the officially sworn in as the lottery administrator by Mr. Graves. (102) Mr. Graves along with Mr. Summers make up the lottery slips the night before the lottery. (102) And Mr. Martin who holds the lottery box while the slips of paper are being stirred.

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