Death in Expectation English 102: Literature and Composition

Fall 2011

Writing Style: MLA

Thesis Statement
The protagonists in these stories become slaves to expectation which results in their untimely death.
Outline
I. Introduction II. Differences a. Mrs. Hutchinson’s attitude b. Paul is determined to find luck i. Ambitious ii. Driven iii. Appears Unhappy c. Differing states of sanity III. Similarities d. Little power e. Slaves to expectation f. Did not try to escape IV. The trouble with Mrs. Hutchinson and Paul g. Both characters fall prey to the expectations and pressures of society iv. Paul’s mother v. The towns people h. They both accepted the conclusion of the story V. Conclusion

Intense pressure can inevitably bring forth unwarranted loss. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” each feature characters that face an early death as a result of either personal or societal pressure. The authors show many similarities as well as differences that are evident in the characterization of their protagonists. Despite their parallel endings, Mrs. Hutchinson and Paul display diverse personality traits as well as different states of sanity. It is, however, the similarities that outweigh the differences between these characters. Both exhibit an air of powerlessness to outside forces, while neither one of them attempt to change it. Thus, they meet their demise, accepting that they are bound to the situation they found themselves in. The protagonists in these stories become slaves to expectation which results in their untimely death.
Mrs. Hutchinson and Paul vary in many ways in these stories. Most notably their disposition toward their conflict is clearly different. Mrs. Hutchinson exhibits a nervous air as she hurries to the lottery. She jokes and laughs with her neighbors while anxiously awaiting the lottery’s results. It is not until her family is selected that she shows signs of panic and fear. Paul, on the other hand, is an odd child from the beginning. Being very inquisitive and constantly inquiring about the origin of luck. Once he is informed that his family is undeniably unlucky he feverously sets out to find it. For Paul there is no cheerfulness even when he’s selecting the winning horse. Conversely, Mrs. Hutchinson appears that she is jovial and friendly on any other occasion. Even in their last breath their personalities differ. Upon her execution Mrs. Hutchinson stays relatively sane, begging and pleading for her life. Paul on the other hand has clearly lost his mind in the pursuit of luck risking his life for the winning horse’s name. Each protagonist faces the obstacle of powerlessness. Paul is bound to his rocking horse as his only source of luck. While Mrs. Hutchinson cannot, despite her pleading, change the results of the lottery. It is by these pressures that each character becomes a slave to the expectations placed before them. Paul is intent on finding luck and making money with that luck. The more money he makes by guessing the winning horse’s name the luckier he feels. He reaches a point of such desperation to find luck by the horses name that he dedicates himself fully to the pursuit. He became a slave to the expectation to find the winning name. Conversely, Mrs. Hutchinson knew the lottery was approaching. Once she was selected to die she knew that she was committed to that death whether it was her will or not. The connection which makes these characters all the more complex is that they inevitably invited these pressures. Mrs. Hutchinson embraced her death by supporting the lottery. She did not move or attempt to change the tradition. In consequence, she approved of it which welcomed her own assassination. Paul also welcomed death by his single-minded quest for luck. Although, the warning signs for death were abundant he chose to maintain his intense expectation of success. This exhausted his body leading to his death.
Unrealistic expectations become the downfall of both characters. The origins of Paul’s expectations started with his mother and father and their constant lack of money. Paul states, "I started it for mother. She said she had no luck, because father is unlucky, so I thought if I was lucky, it might stop whispering." (par.149) The house that constantly whispered for more money, as well as the pressure to find luck become so strong that Paul ambitiously set out after it. Once he starts winning the expectation to continue to win, provide luck and money for his family grew stronger. Mrs. Hutchinson’s situation was equally similar and different to Paul’s. Her expectation comes from the rituals and traditions of the town. She could not and would not change the inevitable outcome of death; she just hoped that the death would not be her own. People in the town even referred to the importance of the tradition and it is implied that Mrs. Hutchinson agreed to its necessity. Thusly, once selected Mrs. Hutchinson did nothing to actively save her life. Similarly, Paul knew the toll that his search for luck was taking on his body. Regardless he felt that his sacrifice was worth the result.
Death by expectation is the thread that binds Paul to Mrs. Hutchinson. They sought out their own demise by agreeing to participate in actions which unavoidably brought death to them. Regardless of how they died the reason why is the same. Paul was a slave to luck expecting that luck would bring fulfillment. While Mrs. Hutchinson was a slave to tradition assuming that there was no other way. Each character is an example of the danger of following any tradition or ritual blindly. In the end they found themselves a casualty of expectation.

Cited Works Page
Lawrence, D. H. The Rocking-Horse Winner. Grand Rapids: Kessinger. LLC, 2004.