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=Shirley Hardie Jackson by Amanda M. Lacey=

Shirley Hardie Jackson wrote novels, poetry, plays and children’s books. However, Jackson was mainly known for writing short stories and has been said to have created gothic fiction. She wrote over a hundred short stories in her short lifetime. She began writing when she was forced to move with her family from California to New York. She was no longer serious about her school work. Shortly after high school, she began attending the University of Rochester; where after two years, flunked out. She spent the next year of her time living at home while developing her writing skills. In 1937 she began her journalism degree at Syracuse University, which later she altered to an English and speech degree. There, she published one of her first short stories “Janice”, in one of the school’s magazines. Through her work she met future literary critic, Stanley Edgar Hyman, who would later become her husband. In 1940 she graduates from Syracuse University. Within the next few years she begins posting short stories in //The New Yorker//. Shirley Jackson focuses on the domestic and the demonic. Her stories can often be generalized with similar themes or types of characters. Her themes often included circumstances of scapegoat, prejudice, false charity, or everyday savagery. Commonly, her stories have a female character who is wounded, threatened or has displaced by society. The persecutors in her stories also parallel in characteristics. They tend to be smug neighbors, family members, lovers, or anyone close enough to the main character to greatly disturb the character psychologically. Critics say Jackson’s fears come through her writing and she often does not leave much hope for the readers. Shirley Jackson is best known for her short story “The Lottery”. “The Lottery” is known to be her most controversial story. The story is about a ritual practiced by a small town, where annually a person from the town is selected and brutally killed. The ritual has been practiced for years, each year it includes the same two items: a 3-legged stool, and a stained, splintering, black box. However, as time elapses, members of the town become more mocking and apathetic towards other town members who have been affected by the lottery. Also, as years progress, the meaning of the ritual diminishes and the ritual becomes more about the brutality of the killing; yet, no one in the town is willing to revolt or speak out against the reoccurring event. One of the major themes that evolved from this short story is, “-man will never free himself from his primitive nature and is ultimately doomed.” (Nebeker, 5) “The Lottery” may not have been banned in South America if Shirley Jackson’s writing style was different. Jackson vividly describes situations in her short stories and creates imagery. Within a brief, but detailed, first sentence Jackson can tell the reader where they are, what the area looks like, and can set the mood. Although Shirley Jackson had a husband and four children, she always made time for her writing. She never deserved much recognition for her work. While some critics say she had a gifted and talented mind to write such morbid stories, such as //The House on Haunted Hill//. Other critics say some of her creativity could have been a way of relieving herself from her insecurities. She suffered from anxiety, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia. To add, she was morbidly obese and addicted to liquor and prescription drugs. These not only contributed to her short stories, but leaded her to her death of heart failure on August 8th, 1965. Work Cited Alessio, Carolyn. “Shirley Jackson 1919-1965.” __American Writers Supplement.IX__. Jay Parini. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2002. 113-130. This information is organized with Shirley Jackson’s most controversial and well known short story. It leads into her background and personal life. It is then followed by a section about her literary themes and what they mean. Lastly, the article covers her well known works. This information was used to learn about Shirley Jackson and her literary tendencies. The article is full of detailed situations in her life. In reading this article it is easy to infer how Jackson’s early years and personal fears affect hoe her literature and the content she included in her short stories. Bloom, Harold. “Biography of Shirley Jackson.” __Bloom’s Major Short Stories Writers Shirley Jackson__. Aarron Tillman. Santa Barbara: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. 11-13. Bloom, Harold. “Plot Summary of ‘Charles’”. __Bloom’s Major Short Stories Writers Shirley Jackson__. Aarron Tillman. Santa Barbara: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. 14-16. Bloom, Harold. “Critical Views on ‘Charles’”. __Bloom’s Major Short Stories Writers Shirley Jackson__. Aarron Tillman. Santa Barbara: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. 18-19. This book starts out with information about Shirley Jackson’s life. Then the book moves on to her personal well-known works with plot summaries and then a critical analysis of each of the stories. The book is a great source for getting to know the author and her works quickly. It is not as detailed, but it is concise information. This book is also great if you do not understand all the events that happen in each story. Hutchinson, Mary Anne. “Shirley Hardie Jackson”. Literary Reference Center. http://www.galenet.com/sevelt/srcx This gave a very concise but chronological report of Shirley Jackson’s life. The Lottery: Symbolic Tour de Force. Helen E. Nebeker. EXPLORING Short Stories. Online Detriot:Gale, 2003. http://www.galenet.com/sevelt/srcx