Essay 2 Topic

I decided to write my second essay on the language and imagery used in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Franz Kafka’s “In the Penal Colony.” This seemed like a good choice because both of them have extreme topics but aren’t worded in a way that would exaggerate the circumstances in any way. In fact, they use much of the descriptive language and imagery to seem as if they were downplaying the incident, which therefore arises even more tension in the story and emotion from the reader. By using such matter-of-fact tones and language to tell such gruesome stories, Jackson and Kafka first appear as if they are telling a more factual story and letting the reader decide whether or not the incidents described truly warrant judgment and negative reactions. I found this to be creative and interesting because as you look more closely at the pieces, the conservative language is actually used at key points where the author could have built apprehension. Maybe that’s an effective way to create the desired response from the reader when words, languages and images have been too over-exaggerated and overused. Because the simple phrases and tones throughout the gruesome parts stand out more when the exaggeration happens in the reader’s mind rather than in the author’s words. For example, Jackson hints subtly that something is not quite right, but keeps the context of the story more common than sullen, fearful or even horrific, as she could have done. Therefore, when Mrs. Hutchinson starts to argue, plead, and show emotion, it has a greater effect on the reader as it is compared to the empty language tones which reported the beginning of the story. I feel like the two traditions told in the stories are similar in style and context and very comparable in their use of descriptions.