VICTIM AND THE LOTTERY
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'VICTIM' AND 'THE LOTTERY'
The 'Victim' by Oliver Smithfield written in 1975 and 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson written in 1948 rely to a significant extent on their narrative structure to reach the 'moment of realisation'. In the 'Victim' the text is built up to and around the 'moment of realisation' for the character (Mickey). In 'The Lottery' the text is built up to the 'moment of realisation' for the reader. Though the 'moment of realisation' is at different points in each story the narrative structure clearly defines these moments.
The school setting immediately takes the reader back in time, to their own school days. Most can relate to the to the types of characters associated with being in school, the 'bully' like Benda , the 'authority figure' like Mr Curtis, the 'nerdy kid' like Mickey and the 'thinker ' like Ras. Whether we were or we knew one of these types of characters, it was quite easy to place oneself in the school ground as an on looker waiting for the events to unfold.
The build up of Mickey's character is enhanced by the reference to Mickey's mother. Mickey's thought that 'His mother was wrong: it wasn't dangerous to be with the boys', gives the reader an understanding of Mickey's character. It invites sympathy for Mickey in what he must endure at home...