After Reading [The Lottery]

The Lottery, By Shirley Jackson, 1948

Rate: 8/10

 When I first read the title, I thought it would be a lucky draw. But when I read the ending, I couldn't shut up in shock. 


 Not only in Korea but also in any country, society began from an agricultural society and has the custom of holding rituals that whishing rain and festivals for a good harvest. Traditions and customs are hard to change. But the wrong tradition and wrong perception must change. The village in "Lottery" has caused innocent victims every year under the name of 'tradition'. But no one rebelled against this custom, and silently sympathized with it. In this part, I think I felt a great fear of crowd psychology and the seriousness of the uncritical attitude. Is it right to sacrifice one person for everyone's happiness? The main character of this lottery can be me or my family, but after reading the story, I think I was really surprised by the madness hidden under people's expressions. 

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After Reading [The Student]

The student, By Anton Chekhov (1894) Rate : 7 / 10     While reading the story, I thought Ivan was a unique person. Until he realizes that the present and the past are  flowing and  connected by an unbroken chain, he can be seen as a hero himself in the process of telling Bible stories and making widows shed tears. In particular, the stage of "The Road Back," which is my part of the 12 stages of hero’s journey, can be seen as emphasizing Ivan's realization by setting a warm and beautiful background in contrast to the beginning of the story set in a cold and dark night.  Also, I think the writer reflects  his hope about the Russian society.  Like Peter, who denied the Jesus three times but eventually realized him and shed tears, I thought Vasilisa shed tears imagining future and present of Russia, which she denied the cold and gloomy past but would become warm again like the ending of a novel. 
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After Reading [Gooseberries]

Gooseberries ,  By Anton Chekhov (1898) Rate : 8 / 10  Gooseberries, which Nikolai grew on the land he had worked hard for about 20 years, came as an uncomfortable taste for Ivan and a sweet taste for Nikolai himself.    Each person has a different standard of happiness and a different way of pursuing happiness.  For Nikolai, preparing his own land was a way of achieving happiness, and for Ivan, enjoying nature as itself was a way of enjoying his own happiness.  Since two did not understand each other, so I think that the taste of gooseberries might have felt different.     Nikolai's thoughts are very similar to those of people in modern society. Before one knows, material has become the standard for determining happiness, and people struggle to prepare their own homes and land. In addition, there were people who were satisfied by comparing what they had with what others did not, and who gained a happiness from the superiority is induced...
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After Reading [The lady with the dog]

The lady with the dog ,  By Anton Chekhov (1899) Rate : 6.5 / 10  When I read the ending of the story, I was quite embarrassed and disappointed. It seemed like it was about to start, but it was over. However, through this composition, I think I was able to imagine more. There will be many Gurov and Anna in the world. They will be in conflict between the life seen by others and the inner side not seen by others, and many people will be agonizing over their duplicity, even if it is not the story of an affair couple.  It would be fun to get out of the everyday life that locked in frame, and try a new deviation. However, the gaze of reality is not so soft, so even  though instinctive desires could be filled, I wondered what choice they would have made in an open ending that the deeper they fall into each other, the less proud they will be to the world. Is this belated love just a twisted fate or a just instinctive and unethical desire? 
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