Violence in Our Societies: Growing Knowledge, Broader Ideas - Essay Sample

Introduction

Violence in our societies is of increasing concern. The growing knowledge of violence among the people demands broader ideas of the perpetrators, and the affected. There is a realization also of various forms that violence takes than the physical blows and wounds but also sexual assault, neglect, verbal attacks, insults, threats, harassments and other psychological abuses. It is found in all works of life including homes, workplaces, public institution, schools, health care facilities and along the streets. The vulnerable are women and children as much as men, and more often, it is committed by someone close to the victim. Violence can be random and spontaneous as in the form of lashing out in rage or systematically planned calculated to overpower and take control. These acts of violence generally affect everyone directly or indirectly involved, such as those who witness, family members, co-workers, services providers, and all members of society. All forms of violence have damaging short and long term effects psychologically, physically, and spiritual well-being on the people. This paper discusses the theme of violence as seen the story of "An Act of Vengeance by Isabel Allende", "The Lottery by Shirley Jackson", and "A party down at the square by Ralph Ellison" to help us understand the impact violence in our societies as experienced by the main characters.

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Isabel Allende's story "An Act of Vengeance" paints an uncensored image of its topic: the expense of violence. This cost incorporates the short, and long term sway of violence has on perpetrators and the regular people, the blame to which it can lead for wrongdoings submitted, and the craving for retaliation it can deliver in its casualties. Allende uncovers this subject through character advancement, strife and imagery. The main players are the victim Dulce Rosa, a 15-year-old girl, and the perpetrator, a soldier, Tadeo Cespedes who killed her father and raped her.

Violence is seen through her from her tender age when she won the beauty contest and subsequently crowned the carnival queen. The parents of her competitors were displeased, claiming her prize was because of her father's influence as a senator. The extent of hate from her neighbours was clearly demonstrated after she was raped they rejoiced. The devastation of rape traumatized the young girl to such a degree of a sworn vengeance at all cost. To demonstrate her resolve she build her house from the ruins of her father. Her bitterness escalates to a journey of revenge. In the other hand, the general of guerrilla, Tadeo Cespedes is a man used to violence from a young age to the point he could not remember how it feels to be cared for by a mother, coldhearted individual with no sense of peace. Violence had become part of his child and adulthood. However, Tadeo develops regret and quilt as a result of violence he had inflict on the people haunting him besides being a respected mayor. The Prefect asked Tadeo "Where are you going, Don Tadeo? And he said, "To repair some ancient damage." (Zapata.) The pain of the past, especially what his actions against Dulce Rosa, a child and a carnival queen. The guilt of such violence enabled Rosa, after 30years, to execute her revenge (Alonso 7).

The tale of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story about the old traditional practice, which was more of a ritual than mere practice. The Lottery is an ironic name for the barbaric practice of drawing papers and having the village's people pick them. Whoever selects a dot will have their family members pick again, and the winner is stoned.

The story is centred on an annual tradition on June 27 on a good summer day in New England. The village residence are gathered for the annual Lottery which has been passed for overtime initially was a festive day but has turned out into acts of violence, and none of the residences was willing to participate let alone to win. Some residences seemed unbothered by the occasion given the case of Tessie Hutchinson. She did not mind until his family member picked the dreaded mark when she started protesting that the Lottery was not fair. Acts of violence was displayed when the winner is found. That was the reason that Tessie learnt and could not believe the turn of events. However, she won the Lottery and befell the tragedy of the people. She was, therefore, stoned by the people, including her family-the tradition of violence.

Violence in the town was an accepted way of life from the way the boys gathered stones, and one could imagine it was a fun affair of the young and jovial children playing. One could easily conclude that something pleasant was in the offing to celebrate a beautiful summer where the flowers "blossoming profusely" (Jackson). Moreover, the use of the Lottery is a term implying a fortune. But the what the winner receives as the prize is horrifying.

Deeper analysis to finer details of the occasion shows ease among the people before the commencement of the Lottery. The residence keeps a distance away from the stool with the black box, and the people were hesitant when Mr Summers requested for assistance showing a disparity from the people looking forward to an exciting event. How the villagers also were drawing the tickets is marked with difficulties giving the impression that something was amiss. Mr Summers askes, "Don't you have a grown boy to do it for you, Janey?." And also people are nervous as they draw the tickets while avoiding to look at one another (Sustana). Tension and violence played The Lottery.

A Party Down at the Square a short story by Ralph Ellison presents a pertinent issue involving violence based on race. It is an act of prejudice, discrimination against an individual or a group because of belonging to a different race. This story of Ralph uncovers the evils and immorality of discrimination of racism.

In the story, the narrator tells of a young boy whose true name is not revealed but referred to as "nigger". Violence gripples the whole scene as seen from his mistreatments. He is kept in the cold and the boy was freezing and shivering. Besides his predicament he is addressed as nigger because of his skin colour. The description of the event and the environment around by the narrator develops feelings of despise. "It was so bright that the bronze statue of the general standing there in the Square was like something alive. The shadows playing on his moldy green face made him seem to be smiling down at the nigger." (ELLISON).

The narrator talks of the crashing plane due to heavy storms and the little distractions that it caused the people of the town. Violence is so extreme in the town as described by the narrator. The storm even though it is a natural phenomenon, heightened the scene happening in the town square. The storm is violent that it caused the plane to crash. However, the emergency people ran around to just to see the crash. However, after the crash, people are returning to the boy who is then bleeding, and blood was oozing in his body standing with a fire burning around him. None seemed sympathetic about him, and everyone looked while mocking him callously. "Well, nigger, it ain't so cold now, is it? You don't need to put your hands in your pockets now. (ELLISON 5)

The cruelty is displayed every occasion towards the boy. Everyone calls him a nigger and the narrator feels like going away, but he didn't, he stays along to watch. The pain that he suffers is intense that he requests to be killed, but none could have it. Jed laughs at him more making jokes. He threw a can of gasoline that burnt him completely. Jed becomes popular that people planned to select him as the sheriff.

The acts of violence in these scenes cut across all the societies and are perpetrated by the local people on the same people they have lived with. The prize for violence is more violence. There is nothing worthwhile that comes from inflicting pain and trauma on others. At the end of the scenes of violence, the audience feels devastated as they imagine themselves in the shoes of the victims. Forgiveness, empathy and compassionate makes the difference where violence thrives.

Works Cited

Alonso, Dora. Short Stories by Latin American Women THE MAGIC AND THE REAL. Published by Modern Library, 2003.

ELLISON, RALPH. A PARTY DOWN AT THE SQUARE. 1997.

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. 2008.

Sustana, Catherine. Analysis of 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. 31 08 2019. 22 03 2020.

Zapata., Celia Correas de. Sample text for Short stories by Latin American women : the magic and the real / edited by Celia Correas de Zapata ; foreword by Isabel Allende. 2017. website. 22 03 2020.