"Once again I can climb about and remind you that a woman in this epoch does the important literary thinking."~Gertrude Stein
"I never appreciated 'positive' heroes in literature. They are almost always cliches, copies of copies, until the model is exhausted. I prefer perplexity, doubt, uncertainty, not just because it provides a more 'productive' literary raw material, but because that is the way we humans really are."~Jose Saramago
Tuesday night brings us back to fiction with one of the most interesting of American female writers, Shirley Jackson. Brad Echols presides as we examine our annual collection of short fiction, as well as a banned book. Known worldwide on the strength of the endlessly anthologized "THE LOTTERY," Jackson was capable of an even wider range of subjects tones, and literary devices.
Brad provided the questions, so it is our job to provide acumen and wit to complement them! Let's get together for another of our signature literary discussions on Tuesday. Also, we can take the opportunity to discuss next month's visit with author Joe R. Lansdale. We want the meeting to be one worthy of Mr. Lansdales time and travel. All ideas will be appreciated. See you then.
Discussion Questions
1. Who (or what) is James Harris? (and why does he wear a blue suit)?
2. Ralph Ellison was apparently a frequent guest in the Vermont home of Shirley Jackson and her husband, who was an academic. Ellison is reported to have encountered racist attitudes when visiting their hometown. How does Shirley Jackson deal with racism in her stories?
3. Although he supported her writing, her husband was apparently also a typical father of the fifties, having little to do with the day to day care of the kids or the home. He is also reported to have had frequent affairs. Do you think the sense of unhappiness, discontent and even mental instability reflected in her stories is autobiographical? Do you agree with those, including Joyce Carol Oates, that describe Jackson as a feminist writer?
4. The Lottery is obviously the most famous short story written by Jackson. Her husband wrote, after her death, that she was very proud that it was banned in South Africa. Was The Lottery about racism? If not, why was it banned in South Africa? What is its enduring appeal? Why did it create such a stir when it was published? Do the other short stories "hold up" in comparison?
5. Other than The Lottery, what is your favorite short story and why?
6. Is there a central theme in this collection of short stories? If so, what do you believe it is ?
7. Did you like the collection? If not, did you at least like it better than last month's selection?
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