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Do you guarantee A or A+

Do you guarantee A or A+? Directions: Choose one of the following for this week’s essay assignment. Write an essay that makes a case for why Mrs. Wright should be freed by the women who have identified the clues of her guilt or allowed to face the judgment of the judicial system. Choose one side or the other. You cannot do both!

Examine the characters in the story and their feelings about the lottery. Can it be argued that villagers want the drawing to continue? Discuss how one might come to this conclusion using examples from the story.

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The discourse surrounding Mary Wright, the protagonist of Susan Glaspell's "Trifles," presents a compelling examination of female oppression in a patriarchal context. As the storyline unfolds, the audience witnesses how Mrs. Wright is not only a suspected murderer but also a victim of her socio-cultural environment. This essay will argue for her right to freedom, advocating that the women who understand her plight and the clues indicating her guilt should intervene, to spare her from facing a judgment system that fundamentally fails to comprehend her suffering.

Mary Wright, formerly Minnie Foster, is symbolically and physically shackled by the oppressive structures of her marriage and society. Her husband, John Wright, embodies the very ethos of male dominance, exerting control that extends beyond their domestic sphere. He represents not just a partner but a figure of continuous psychological torment that ultimately leads to dire consequences. The narrative reveals that John Wright is responsible for the death of Minnie's spirit, a slow erosion of identity culminating in her drastic actions. In such a context, it is evident that her perceived guilt may be a response to systemic abuse rather than pure malice.

To argue for Mrs. Wright's release is to highlight the layers of female solidarity in Glaspell's narrative. As the women—specifically, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters—investigate Mrs. Wright's former life, they unearth symbols of her suffocation: the dead canary, the broken jars of fruit, and the uneven stitches. Each of these artifacts poignantly illustrates the emotional and psychological distress experienced by Minnie. The canary, a vibrant symbol of her once joyful existence, is killed by her husband, drawing a parallel to her own silenced voice. When Mrs. Hale empathizes with Mrs. Wright, stating, “We all go through the same things—it’s all just a different kind of the same thing,” it becomes clear that the women bear a unique understanding of the struggles ingrained in their gender, forged by sympathy and shared experiences.

This solidarity culminates in an ethical dilemma thrust upon the women. Faced with evidence that could incriminate Mrs. Wright, they choose to shield her from the legal repercussions that would ensue. As custodians of their shared female experience, they recognize that the judicial system is inherently biased, designed to uphold patriarchal values that trivialize the emotional landscape of women. The act of concealing the evidence highlights the moral agency of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters—they assert their roles not merely as witnesses but as advocates for a misunderstood woman seeking liberation from an unjust fate.

In examining the second prompt regarding the lottery in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," it becomes apparent that the villagers' tacit acceptance of the lottery may stem from a deep-rooted tradition that provides a sense of communal identity. The villagers exhibit a complex relationship with the lottery, operating under the pretense that the drawing is a necessary societal ritual, albeit one that results in violence and death. This grim cycle illustrates how societal constructs can perpetuate inhumane practices under the guise of tradition. The characters, despite their awareness of the lottery's brutal outcome, continue to participate because it offers them continuity and familiarity within their communal framework.

Jackson’s exploration of this theme reveals an unsettling truth: the villagers seem resigned to their fate, reflecting an unsettling desire to maintain the status quo, even at the cost of human life. The older generation, represented by Mr. Delacroix, often justifies participation in the lottery due to its tradition. In contrast, the younger generation, while showing signs of dissent, still feels the pressure to conform. This illustrates a disturbing adherence to inherited violence, blind to the changes in moral consciousness that newer generations might advocate.

The villagers’ willingness to sacrifice an individual for the greater good—however misguided—supports the perspective that they wish for the lottery to continue. Their comments during the drawing, filled with casualness and anticipation, speak to a collective desire to engage with this morose tradition that binds them together. The ritual, which ostensibly promotes community, also reveals the latent hostility and desensitization to violence that has taken root among them.

In conclusion, both Mary Wright and the villagers in Jackson’s narrative serve as poignant reminders of the impact of societal structures on individual actions. Glaspell’s portrayal of Mrs. Wright calls for a compassionate examination of abuse and the freedoms denied to women, making a compelling case for her exoneration. On the other hand, Jackson’s depiction of the lottery critiques the blind adherence to tradition that can lead to collective moral failures. Ultimately, both narratives demand a reevaluation of our values, urging society to prioritize understanding and compassion over judgment.

References

• Glaspell, S. (1916). Trifles. In Susan Glaspell: The Complete Plays. University of Nebraska Press.
• Jackson, S. (1948). The Lottery. The New Yorker.
• Friedman, L. (1991). The Tyranny of Tradition: The Lottery in Context. American Literature, 63(4), 573-589.
• Rivkin, J., & Ryan, M. (1998). Literacy: A Critical Sourcebook. Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Hale, L. C. (2001). Feminist Perspectives on Susan Glaspell's "Trifles". Modern Drama, 44(1), 50-69.
• Walters, D. (2011). Inhabiting the roles: An analysis of Gender Dynamics in “The Lottery.” Journal of American Studies, 45(1), 89-102.
• Harris, H. E. (2000). The Consequences of Conformity: Race and Community in the Work of Jackson and Glaspell. Studies in American Fiction, 28(1), 35-54.
• Du Bois, W. E. B. (2004). The Souls of Black Folk. Dover Publications.
• Showalter, E. (1998). Hester Prynne's Daughters: An Exploration of Women's Role in American Literature. University Press of Kentucky.
• Grosz, E. (1994). Volatile Bodies: Toward a Corporeal Feminism. Indiana University Press.