“In case you never get a second chance: don't be afraid!" "And what if you do get a second chance?" "You take it!”
~ (Anonymous, 2014)
Literature and other disciplines in Humanities fosters a sense of understanding regarding realities that discusses human experiences. From the definition of humanities and coining it from its root word “human”, it means can only originate from an aspect that entirely focuses on the aspect concerning human endeavors. True enough, humanities are a field of study that is involved in the pursuit of gaining understanding of concepts, principles and ideologies relating to human culture (Peoples & Bailey, 2011). Humanities involve history, the arts, philosophy, social sciences like anthropology, sociology, religion, archeology and languages, only to name a few. It is not unusual to see three different scopes of humanities sharing the same theme because it all addresses a common denominator—human experience. In lieu with this, three creative works are selected from three different disciplines of humanities for the purpose of analysis and interpretation. Objective and subjective analysis shall be implored to demonstrate the value of humanities in a more meaningful way.
For the purpose of this analysis and interpretation, the proponent decided to work on Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery (Literature), Al Molina’s The Only Morality in a Cruel World is Chance (Visual Arts) and Ross Katz Taking Chance (Film). The common theme that will be explored in this analysis is the concept of “chance”, “fate” and “taking risk.” All three works talks about the chances that we encounter daily and some of those that we often miss as well as the risk that we take. In every opportunity presented to us, the quotation “In case you never get a second chance: don't be afraid!" "And what if you do get a second chance?" "You take it!” best represent the overall theme of three creative works.
Objective Analysis
Objective analysis is reviewing an object base on observable features and characteristics. At the same time, it also utilized concrete information presented about an object that are generated and provided as fact.
- Literary Work: Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery
Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery is a short story published in 1948. The short story is a narrative prose that recounts an event or story about person, a place or an event (Hart, 1995). The Lottery narrates an event annually celebrated in a small rural village typically describes as one of the “small town America”, a typical description of the location in most classic literary works. The title of the story was named after the activity that takes place during the festivity. It is a game luck that requires everyone’s participation regardless of age, gender and economic status. People had to stop whatever they were doing and gather up at the town square to join in the drawings and participate in the game of chance. However, there is a different twist to the game. It is not like the traditional lottery that we encounter today. Instead, it draws the name of the person who will be sacrificed and stoned to death by the village people. This involved not only the elderlies of the community but even the younger ones. This almost mimics a ritual that is done and participated by everyone even the youth to preserve its tradition. During the drawing, the issue was raised of modifying the ritual or completely turning away from its practice because it is no longer fitting of a civilized society. This argument was in fact; the argument used in another village who agreed to stop the practice of the lottery. However, the consensus was not approved of the suggestion. Towards the end, the name of the unlucky person was drawn and naturally she objected and tried to argue her way out of the fate that befell her that unfortunate day. However, towards the end the rule and social norm was followed, and Mrs. Tess Hutchinson was the unfortunate victim.
The overall presentation of the short story reveals the author’s unique writing style. The theme of the story revealed that the author was political by nature. The topic was of conforming to the norms, however, was fashioned under the guise of false conformity. In this case, the authors were trying to show the readers how strong tradition and culture is at influencing people’s behavior and their ways of thinking. While the event was a long-practiced tradition, it is no longer appropriate especially that people during that time was already under the jurisdiction of the universal law governing basic human rights as specified in a United Nations special charter known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was created, signed and maintained by all the signatories. The tradition of continuing to perform the lottery is a direct breach of an individual’s right to life. As specified in Article 6.1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life” (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2014). In the same way, another way of interpreting the story is based on the idea of fate and taking chances. If one can recall the story, it was mentioned that someone raised an objection on the practice of the ritual. However, no one dared raise it formally. In the fifth paragraph, it revealed how much deeply passionate the people were about their tradition that no one dare point out the need to change the “black box” more so, offer to stop the tradition as it no longer seemed rational.
- Non-Literary Work: Al Molina’s The Only Morality in a Cruel World is Chance
The Only Morality in a Cruel World is Chance is a painting created and delivered to talk about the two face of the game of chance. According to Molina, this painting represents the two face of gambling and game of chance. One of the face in the drawing is a presentable imagery where the man exudes the positive side of the game of chance. However, second half of the image shows a frightening disintegrating man who encounters a dark test station. Artist Al Molina painted this two-faced man holding a silver coin in his hand to describe how life can certainly be cruel. (Please refer to Picture A for the illustration.) However, according to the artist the concept of chance is the only consolation that leaves people sane because it gives that glim touch of hope that there is the possibility of turning things around to favor an individual.
The artist has a grotesque representation of the concept of chance. He was trying to present the perspective that in life there are always two sides of the coin. It was like saying that every day is a gamble and that consciously or otherwise people are required to play. The artist was informing his audience that depending on which side an individual decides to play will be the image that they will receive as a consequence. If you play your cards well and you don’t allow fate to rule over you then you will see the normal side. However, if you allow fate to control you and let chance dictate your life then you will be facing the consequence of losing your face.
- Non-Literary Work: Ross Katz Taking Chance
In 2009, the movie Taking Chance has graced the cinemas under the direction of Ross Katz. The film was about the life of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl played by Kevin Bacon. The film talks about the journey of Lt. Col. Strobl as he served as an escort to the remains for a 19-year-old military serviceman who died in combat. The movie talks about an individual’s personal journey towards self-realization without the knowledge that a simple task would lead him to stumble upon such discovery. It is a game chance for Strobl to earn his promotion but in the end he earned the respect of his colleagues.
Taking Chance is the story of Lt. Col. Michael Strobl who served as the volunteer military escort officer of the corpse of a 19 year old boy back to his hometown after falling as a casualty in a war. The story narrates how the character of Kevin Bacon tries is luck of earning his promotion by offering to volunteer as a military escort of delivering the boy’s body to his family. Ross Katz approach of the film was from a realistic point-of-view. Life is not always about a picture-perfect house in white picket fences. Not everyone who goes into combat will come back alive. And even if they do, it would be hard not be haunted by the experience they have in combat. These soldiers take their chances when they go into combat. They put their lives at risk hoping that they are battling for a noble cause. In this story, the risk and the game of chance had been presented in two folds. The 19-year-old soldier has his battle in the game of chance lost. On the other hand, Kevin Bacon’s character successfully completed the journey because he was able to gain insightful realizations from the encounter.
The Analysis of Subjective Data
Subjective analysis is responses drawn based on personal opinions, judgments, and feelings. This relates to offering a personal interpretation on the story and the different forces enclosed in each piece of work.
- Literary Work: Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery
In analyzing the literary piece, The Lottery it presented the interrelation of fate and one’s personal choice. In this case the people allowed fate to determine what is to be decided. They all had the opportunity to put an end to the immoral and unethical ritual of a tradition that the community practice. However, they kept bummed. In the case of Tess Hutchinson’s turn to be stoned to death, all of a sudden she began protesting only to realize that it is already too late. Like most of us, whenever we witness an injustice we are often too afraid to speak up. We often pretend we do not see or do not hear a thing. However, until such time that were are placed in that situation do we cry out injustice. As the quotation from the beginning of this paper said, if you are not given a second chance like Mrs. Hutchinson, she should be brave because that was the price she had to pay for keeping silent the whole time. For the rest of the people who were freed from getting stoned, they are given a second chance. There is now an opportunity to bring this case to the people concern and stop this wrong tradition.
- Non-Literary Work: Al Molina’s The Only Morality in a Cruel World is Chance
The artwork by Al Molina talks about morality as the only element that could salvage people in the world of chance. If one want to survive, unharmed by the corruption of our society then one must master the art of selecting from the available options. Every day we are tempted to do things that we know raised doubts. However, if we keep ourselves from doing what is scrupulous, then we can flip the coin towards the side that is not damaged by corruption, greed, and pride.
- Non-Literary Work: Ross Katz Taking Chance
In the film Taking Chances, the story line revolves around the battles that people take and the potential risks that it can have to us. When the 19-year-old young man decided to go to war and get into the same boat as the government was as far as advocacy is concerned, he made a choice. He was supporting an unworthy cause. The government’s social norm obliged him to participate blindly and take up their cause and interest. As a result, he died like Mrs. Hutchinson who like him the would have been saved from the tragic end should they both stood up and fought the system that enforced them that their tradition is not to be challenged.
Relating the Three Works
All the three works are addressing a common theme, how fate presents itself in our day to day experience. As mentioned earlier, we may not know it but all of us are summoned to play in a game of chance everyday beginning from when we wake up in the morning until such time we go to sleep at night. Life offers a particular sense of uncertainty that makes us all cringe of the things to come. In the three works it revealed how each of the characters in the short story, the image of the man in the portrait and the actors from the films are all presented with a situation where they have the option to play or turn their back and leave. In the story of the Lottery, everyone has the option to say that it has to stop. However, nobody dared. They will only say it is unfair if they are placed in the awkward position of being stoned. Otherwise, they would rather play along and wait until someone bold enough can come forward and say no more. On the other hand, Al Molina’s painting also epitomizes that two sides to fate and how it control and manipulate us. The clear side revealed that it did not allow a fate to control a person’s sense of self. Instead, he allowed himself to decide where to go and what options to take. The artist of this artwork said, "only morality in a cruel world is chance. " Similar to the cause in the short story and the film, if we allow chance to dominate us then we will be corrupted of the essence to maintain our dignity. In the case of the film, Strobl simply agreed to escort the remains of the fallen soldier in the hope that he will be rewarded for his action. However, he was confronted with the realization that the social norm is in itself maligned with corrupt ways. A young man was thrown in the dangerous condition of a war so that the government can have its victory of something of an unworthy cause.
Reflection
Life is a big risk that everyone course through every day. The game of chance does not necessarily have to involve the traditional standards that society has of gambling. In fact, in the three literary masterpieces selected for this study, the author intends to show the uncertainty of life yet the need for everyone to be prepared of what life has to offer. We all take risks and in the risks that we take, we don’t always win. Instead of regret, one needs to see the insights that can be drawn from the situation. Some consequences of our actions might be irreversible and some might even cause us our lives. However, the final course to this is taking accountability and learning from it.
Summary
In the light of adversities and tribulations people relies to sheer luck to help them get by the atrocities. As the saying goes, there is nothing wrong with dreaming and since it is free to have dreams. Some would assume to dream big and shoot amongst the stars. This was the theme in Shirley Jackson literary masterpiece, The Lottery. It was also the inspiration in Al Molina’s painting entitled, The Only Morality in a Cruel World is Chance, and the story line in the 2009 film entitled Taking Chance. In the quote ““In case you never get a second chance: don't be afraid!" "And what if you do get a second chance?" "You take it!” it only tells us that we should never assume that everything is better even with the knowledge that it is not only because we are afraid to stand our ground. In the event that we become victims of these system, we should never complain nor should we be afraid. Just remember that you once had the chance to change it but you did not take that chance because it was not you who will take the fall. However, should you become fortunate and succeed at getting another chance, take that opportunity to fight off the system that you know for a fact does not serve to benefit anyone. Changes to be embraced especially if the changes will bring something positive and something benefitial not only to self but to others as well.
References
Anonymous. (2014, November 26). Quotes: Chances . Retrieved from Goodreads Website: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/chances
Hart, J. (1995). Oxford Companion to American Literature. New York: Oxford University Press.
Peoples, J., & Bailey, G. (2011). Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning.
