What Are The Similarities Between The Lottery And Good Country People

Victoria Lorick
Professor Mantz
ENGL – 1302 – 72Z
February 19, 2023
The Lottery and Good Country People(16)
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson and "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor are two different short stories that share some similarities, but also have distinct differences.
Both stories deal with themes of deception, morality, and the dangers of blindly following traditions or beliefs. In "The Lottery," the villagers blindly follow the tradition of the lottery without questioning its morality or purpose. In "Good Country People," the protagonist, Hulga, blindly believes that she is intellectually superior to everyone else and is ultimately deceived by a seemingly "good country" Bible salesman. The characters in both stories also

The lottery is conducted by Mr. Summers, who manages several civic activities in the village. At this point, it is still not entirely clear what the lottery is or what the villages get from the lottery. The title is quite deceptive because it leads readers to believe there is some sort of prize or a game of chance, where the winner would receive some sort of prize or reward. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the lottery is not a game at all, but a ritual in which one member of the community is selected at random and then stoned to death by the other members.
Another similarity is that both stories have surprise endings that shock the reader. In "The Lottery," the winner of the lottery is stoned to death, which is unexpected and shocking. In "Good Country People," Hulga is deceived by the Bible salesman, who steals her prosthetic leg and leaves her stranded in a barn.
However, the two stories also have distinct differences. "The Lottery" is more of a social commentary on the dangers of tradition and conformity, while "Good Country People" is a character study of a protagonist who believes she is superior to others but is ultimately humbled by her own

Hulga is skeptical and believes she is superior to everyone else around her. One day, a seemingly innocent and naive Bible salesman named Manley Pointer comes to visit Hulga and her mother. Hulga is initially skeptical of Manley, but he manages to gain her trust and invites her on a walk. They end up in a secluded barn, where Manley reveals his true intentions and steals Hulga's wooden leg, leaving her stranded.
The reason why Manley wants Hulga's leg is not explicitly stated in the story, but it can be interpreted as a metaphor for his desire to take away her power and control. Hulga, with her intellect and education, sees herself as superior to others, but her wooden leg is a constant reminder of her physical vulnerability and limitations. By taking away her leg, Manley takes away her power and control, leaving her completely vulnerable and at his mercy. It is also possible that Manley steals Hulga's leg as a symbolic act of revenge against her for her condescending attitude and lack of