3 Essays - Dystopian Literature, Films, Human Sacrifice, The Lottery

Roberts 1 Carla R. Roberts Sharon Wallace English 120 7 June 2011 Setting in Shirley Jackson?s ?The Lottery? It is likely to assume that a lottery is a good thing. We all want to win something in life. Whether a car, a trip to Hawaii, or a million dollars, we all want the chance to be the lucky one of many. The townspeople in the story the lottery, seemed to be gathering for such an event with joy and enthusiasm. Everyone was waiting anxiously for the lottery to begin. At least that?s how it seemed. As the story progressed, it is revealed that they are all, in fact, afraid of the results. In actuality, no one really wanted to hold the winning ticket. Cleverly, the author opens the story by painting a joyful mood. It was sunny and warm. The flowers were in bloom. Children were laughing and playing. Women gossiped amongst one another while men spoke of family and the fields. The characters seemed at peace. They were calm and content. Even the stories focal character, Tessie, bought humor to the setting which gave a light air. But it wasn?t until Tessie made a scene when her husband Roberts 2 selected the winning ticket that we begin to see the plot turn negative. Most people would be happy to win the lottery. But knowing death is the outcome, it is understood why she would be against her husband choosing the slip that he did. Although the setting is pleasant from the start, it is not until the end of the story that you realize every small detail has significant meaning. When Mr. Summers asked for assistance with the box, there was a hesitance from the men. It seemed as if no one wanted to disturb the traditions in the box used to hold the lottery and jinx their chances of winning by touching it, but they simply felt as if they were assisting fate in their own possible death. Tessie showing up late was a normal incident. It is easy to lose track of time. But she was reluctant to come for fear of her destiny. The boys were gathering stones for what was assumed to be child?s play, but, in the end, aided in murder of an innocent woman. Even the comment that was made about the how soon the lottery came back around showed that the townspeople did not truly welcome the lottery. They were able to behave in such a normal manner during this event because they accepted it. The lottery was expected and destined to oc cur, despite the opposition of the townspeople. Roberts 3 Work Cited Jackson, Shirley. ?The Lottery.? Introduction to Literature. New York, NY: Pearson, 2011

3 Lessons Freelancers Learn from... Bears

3 Lessons Freelancers Learn from... Bears Things that are great about being a bear: You get a diet rich in fish, you’re big enough that most predators don’t bother you, you don’t have to have a LinkedIn Profile, and when you want to go sleep in cave for weeks at a time, nobody thinks it’s weird. Fortunately we’re not just doomed to a life as sad hairless bear-wannabes. There are things freelancers can learn from bears when it comes to managing our work-life, as assembled by Chris over at Rags to Reasonable.Lesson 1: Hibernation ModeUnless you’ve landed a really plum long-term contract or three, odds are your workstream ebbs and flows (or sometimes even dries up entirely). This means you have to know how to match your variable expenses to your variable income- make sure you know how to get your operating costs low and manageable enough to allow even your â€Å"hibernation wages† to last you until your next big paycheck.Lesson 2: Go Where the Food IsThis lesson is both obvious a nd frustrating when you’re starting out and taking every single job that comes your way. Some of them may not be as lucrative as you wanted or as relevant to your overall goals as you hoped. Still,  you take them and accept what the market has to offer since you don’t know if there will be food (i.e. work) if you hold out for something closer to your experience.Lesson 3: Filling Your Fat StoresA positive and negative of freelancing is that when it rains it pours, if you’re paid by the project and not hourly. This means you may work for a while in obscurity and then (sometimes months later!) are  rewarded with a significant check for a large portion of your work.The most valuable tip I took away from Chris’ bear-advice was to remember that check is  not disposable income; it’s not leftover, it’s not actually a reliable, regular paycheck. Make it last as long as possible by being savvy with your spending and strategic with your saving.If You’re Freelancing, Have a Plan For Your â€Å"Hibernation† SeasonIf You’re Freelancing, Have a Plan For Your â€Å"Hibernation† Season  Read More at Rags to Reasonable