evil lurking within

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The short stories 'The Lottery' and 'The Possibility of Evil' by Shirley Jackson expose the wickedness of human nature. Shirley Jackson displays that human beings have immorality lurking within them, and that immorality is a driving force that causes people to find enjoyment and pleasure out of the evil and horrid things found in life. Shirley Jackson shows evil in a way that most readers wouldn't expect. The evil in her stories do not come from a super villain; the evil portrayed in her stories lie within all her characters. Her writing implies that everyone is capable of acting evil; it is a part of human nature.

Everyone has the capability of acting wicked, appearances may be fooling. "She was seventy-one... with a pretty little dimple showing by her lip" Shirley Jackson describes Miss Strangeworth as a pleasant old lady, nevertheless it uncovers that no matter how beautiful the outside may appear the inside can still be rotten. It is illustrated that Miss Strangeworth's letters are something she holds a great amount of pride in "Miss Strangeworth liked writing her letters" yet she never leaves behind a trace of personal identity on any. "Miss Strangeworth always used a dull stub of pencil when she wrote her letters, and she printed them in a childish block print." this line in the story has a great deal of meaning; even though it has been told that she enjoys writing her letters she knows that these letters she composes will cause a great deal controversy against her favour if she is caught. Mrs Strangeworth represents how anyone in society may be cruel, even those who may seem proper. The outer of a person may contradict with everything they really believe.

Children are portrayed as being innocent; however Shirley Jack...

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...erie fact about the ending of this story, none of the people realize how wicked and vicious they are acting. The lottery is undeniably a part of their lives; it is without a doubt an event they look forward to doing year after year.

"The Lottery" and "The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson exhibit the immoral side of human nature. The human race may have evil and wickedness lying deep inside, however if chosen the goodness of people can overpower the darkness. It is a matter of which side is to be chosen; in these stories it is told that these people have chosen the dark path. Shirley Jackson may be trying to open the eyes of her readers by saying that if they let their immorality win the world will be a hard place to sustain life. It is the brutality within the human race that leads people to find joy and entertainment out of the atrocious things in life.

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