Evil Is Part of Human Nature Essay

Introduction

Human beings, young and old, men and women are evil. They are naturally inclined to violence than happy ending activities. There is a sense of hypocrisy in a majority of people, who pretend that they are peaceful and loving towards their neighbors and even family members but secretly wish that something evil or bad will befall them. This is clearly depicted in the two stories by Shirley Jackson- 'The Witch,' and 'The Lottery.' In these two stories, readers tend to see that the evil nature of human beings can be unleashed in any environment, or setting as long as people devise ways to absolve themselves from blame of the consequences of their activities. Jackson uses the contrasting style to show how people can suddenly turn from being well natured to one another and engage in violent activities that can harm or even kill their victims. Evil is part of human nature and in the right circumstances or the environment, they are willing to unleash it on other people regardless of their relationship to the victims.

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The Setting of the Stories

Jackson begins the two stories in a normal family and community setting. In 'The Witch,' she describes a young family comprising of a mother and her two children, four-year-old Johnny and his baby sister traveling to an unknown destination. Johnny is looking outside the window, stating loudly the things that he sees as the train is moving, while his mother is busy reading her book while at the same time looking after her baby (Jackson1). The activities that Jackson is describing at the beginning of the story are normal and expected activities for this type of travelers.

The same case can be stated for 'The Lottery.' Judging by the introduction, especially the mention of the date 'June 27th,' is an indicator that this activity or event takes place every year. It seems as if it is a national event because Jackson states that in some towns the lottery took two days. Interestingly, Jackson begins the story by describing the morning when the lottery took place as '.... clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green (Jackson430).' The beginning of the story is an indicator of Jackson's skill of using contrasts whereby the reader's expectations are at odds with the events that are unfolding in the story. Although the two stories begin in a fairy-tale like manner, they have distinctively horrific endings, depicting the cruelty and violent-nature of people. In the Witch, an old man provides a gothic description of how he killed his pretty and nice sister that coincidentally he loved more than anything else in the world (Jackson2). On the other hand, in the Lottery, contrary to the name where readers assume that people who draw the lot are winners, there is impending death or harm for the victor. This is revealed when Mrs. Hutchinson draws the paper with a black dot, she is left alone at the center of the square where she is stoned by the villagers, including her family members.

Evil Nature in Human Beings

In the Witch, after Johnny soothes his little sister from crying and receiving a lollipop, he goes back to the window and suddenly states, 'I saw a witch.... there was a big old ugly old bad old witch outside (Jackson1).' This makes up story is an indicator that the little boy has an evil nature. Why make up a story about a witch, instead of something good or peaceful such as an angel? Also, even though he initially gasps when the old man tells him how he murdered his little sister, he seems to be excited by the story (Jackson2). This is clearly depicted by when the man nudged him with an elbow and inquired if he had frightened him, the boy responds by laughing, meaning that the story did not scare him. He then tells his mother, 'This man cut up his little sister,' as if it is a normal activity that takes place on a regular basis (Jackson2).

The story also ends with the boy stating that 'Prob' ly he was a witch,' in relation to the old man who had told him the horrific story (Jackson2). When Jackson introduces the old man to the readers, she states that 'He was an elderly man, with a pleasant face under white hair....' It contrasts his activities later on in the story(Jackson1). Also, when he begins his story in a loving manner indicating that it will have a happy ending, but it has an evil twist as he goes on to describe how he killed his sister. The evil or violence in the Witch is brought about by highly unlikely characters, the little boy and the old man.

On the other hand, in the Lottery, as the plot of the story takes an evil twist after all the families had drawn lots from the black box. When the families were drawing the lots, the crowd was jovial. For instance, when Hutchinson's name is called, Mrs. Hutchinson tells her husband, "Get up there, Bill," and Jackson reveals that the people nearly laughed at this showing that the crowd at this point was jovial (Jackson434). However, after all the families had drawn their lots, Jackson states that there was 'a long pause, a breathless pause,' from the crowd indicating that they were tensed and even scared. When it was revealed that Bill Hutchinson was the one who had 'won' the lottery, instead of being happy, he was quiet and staring down at his paper. Also, his wife began to complain. The response from the villagers such as Mrs. Delacroix whom they had initially been laughing with before the drawing process began was that she should be a good sport, accept her family's fate as it was part of the tradition (Jackson435). The contrast in the behavior of friends from that of being loving to despiteful or hateful is shown here.

Jackson reveals that even family members in this town can turn on one another as was the case when the second lottery was conducted for the Hutchinson family. Five tickets were prepared and the Hutchinson members took turns to draw a slip from the black box. When it became clear that it was Mrs. Hutchinson who had the 'forbidden' ticket, which she refused to reveal to the crowd, her husband was the one who forced the slip of paper out of her hand and showed it to the crowd. It is clear that the other family members were pleased that they had no drawn the 'winning ticket,' and did not care about the fate of their family member. In fact, the children took part in the stoning of their mother as was indicated in the story, '...someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles (Jackson436).' The evil people in this story are all the villagers. Jackson shows the readers that family members and friends can easily turn against one of their own in the right circumstances. In this case, they disguise their violent activities with following a tradition that was passed down from their ancestors despite the fact that they do not remember a majority of the rituals that were part of this event.

The Lesson From the Two Stories

Jackson intends to inform the readers in these two stories never to trust anyone regardless of their physical appearances and the relations they may share. In the Witch, the elderly man, appeared harmless mainly because of his physical appearance, '...a pleasant face under white hair,' and his age (Jackson1). Although her mother initially looked up anxiously when the man sat down next to the little boy, she went back to read her book, an indication that she did not view him as a threat to the family. She only becomes protective of her children when the old man continues describing in a gothic manner of how he killed his sister and instructs him to leave and never come back to their couch. On the other hand, in the Lottery, both the family members and friends of Mrs. Hutchinson are willing and take part in lynching her because she drew a slip from the black box that had a black dot in it. Although Jackson does not tell the readers if the victims are stoned to death, it is clear that people can easily betray their family members and friends if the right situation presents itself, in this case, following a tradition.

Conclusion

In the two stories, Shirley Jackson reveals to the readers that evil, as is the case with goodness, is part of human nature. Jackson adds that people are inclined to violence, and given the chance where they will not be blamed for their actions, they will actively engage in it regardless of the consequences. For instance, even though the elderly man may have been teasing the little boy with the story, why would he put evil thoughts to the young boy showing him how he could harm his little sister. Is he not afraid that he could motivate him to conduct an evil deed? Also, in the Lottery, the villagers collectively stone the 'winner,' perhaps not to ensure that nobody will be individually blamed for the act of killing or injuring one of their own. It is clear that people do not need a reason to engage in evil or violent activities, they need the right circumstances as has been depicted in both 'The Witch,' and 'The Lottery.' In the Witch, the old man may have taken advantage of the situation because the young family did not have a male figure that threatened him and therefore he saw an opportunity to 'plant and evil seed' in the child. On the other hand, in the Lottery, the villagers stated that this event or activity was part of their tradition, and therefore, their hands were tied. Whoever drew the dreaded ticket was to be stoned regardless of their status in that community and everyone has to partake in the lynching process.

Works Cited

Jackson, Shirley. The Witch. Penguin, 2014.

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. Bedford/St. Martins, 2015.