1st discussion

Reading "The Lottery" and "Management of Grief", in the year 2009 when they were published in 1948 and 1988, gives the reader an interesting point of view. For someone reading "The Lottery", they most likely associate the title with the probability that the winner of the said lottery will win substantial amounts of money. However, it turns out the winner is stoned to death by the village. This makes this story seem rather barbaric and terrible to think of these actions truly taking place. In our world to day it would be horrific to hold a lottery in which one person from a town was killed by the other members, simply from random chance. If you drew the wrong piece of paper, then the town killed you. In their time it was probably a more meaningful and frightening story, than it would be perceived today. Today it would simply appears as ludicrous as letting someone get away with murder. People in 2009 who read "Management of Grief," however, most certainly associate the tragedy with the events that took place on September 11, 2001. Without a doubt, the idea of hijacked planes and the loss of loved ones certainly takes it's toll on the heart's of readers in our time. It makes the reader believe that the strength to endure such tragedy is possible and obtainable. In a way the story issues strength to readers. We certainly live in a different world than when these stories were written, however, many people around today were around in 1988. The world is a different place, but the cruelties, as well as the strengths of the human heart continue to endure and to stay vigilant.