Week 5 Short fiction

Discussion Assignment: Tradition, Power, and Resistance in Short Fiction Due Thursday Overview This week, we have explored how two classic short stories, Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper and Shirley Jacksons The Lottery. use narrative techniques to critique tradition, power structures, and human behavior. Each story presents characters trapped within oppressive systems of societal thought and expectations, personal beliefs, or cultural rituals. For this discussion, we will examine how these authors use setting, character, and symbolism to comment on larger social issues. Due Date Week 6 Thursday Discussion Prompt: Explain how each story depicts power, oppression, or resistance within their narratives. Consider the following questions to guide your response: Power Structures: How do the characters in each story either enforce or challenge power structures? Who holds authority, and how is it maintained? Oppression and Resistance: How do the protagonists react to the situations they are placed in? Do they resist or accept their circumstances? What are the consequences? Symbolism and Setting: How do the settings contribute to the themes of the stories? How do symbols (such as the lottery, the amontillado, or the yellow wallpaper) reinforce the authors messages? Relevance Today: Do you see any parallels between these stories and modern social or political issues? How do these works remain relevant in discussions about tradition, gender roles, or societal pressures? Discussion Requirements: Post an original response (two paragraphs) by Thursday that analyzes both stories based on the prompt. Use textual evidence to support your points. Cite specific passages from the stories where appropriate. RESPOND francisco peer In Charlotte Perkins Gilmans “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the power structures are enforced through the traditional “men works” and “women stay at home with the kids.” The husband enforces hold power structure by his attitude toward being so content with his wife home with the baby. While his wife feels locked up and emotionally wrecked due to most likely, postpartum depression. In Shirley Jacksons “The Lottery,” the power structure held is through the town, killing people at random. The entire town, including the protagonist enforces a “barbarian” practice which results in death for her and her family. Although both negative outcomes, both protagonists comply with each circumstance. The consequences are mental illness and death. The settings contribute to the message of the stories by displaying a traditional background, providing that since what happens is tradition, it is “okay.” Although it is not moral or just, the setting of “old time” creates justification for it. There are many relevances in these stores to modern and political issues. Of course, the gender role in relationships; one is expected to do something. As well as the suppression of women even now! In The “Yellow Wallpaper,” she says “So I take phosphates or phosphiteswhichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to ‘work’ until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas.” (Gilman 1). The idea of confining women to nothing is something that is still present today.