Discussion Topic
Point of view and its role in preserving suspense in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
Summary:
The point of view in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is third-person omniscient, which plays a crucial role in preserving suspense. By providing a detached and neutral narrative, it withholds the townspeople's true intentions and the story's dark climax until the very end, maintaining an atmosphere of normalcy and surprise.
In "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, how does the point of view preserve suspense?
Shirley Jackson tells the story using a third person narrator in order to preserve the story's suspense. Instead of writing from an omniscient third person point of view, Jackson discloses the purpose of the lottery and does not address why individuals are becoming anxious as they pick from the mysterious black box. If the story was narrated in the first person, that character would openly express why they have feelings of trepidation while picking from the box. Characters narrating the story would also give further insight into the purpose of the lottery which would again ruin the suspense. An omniscient third person narrator would reveal that the names being drawn from the black box indicate who will be stoned to death. Using a third person narrator allows Jackson to describe the environment and give subtle clues as to what the lottery is about without revealing its purpose.
The point of...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
view in "The Lottery" is third person. The extremely objective narrator does not delve into the minds of any of the characters or give insight into their feelings; rather he merely reveals the process of the lottery as it unfolds.
Jackson uses the narrator to heighten suspense, as the reader of the story only has the information provided by the outward events of the lottery. This style of narration forces the reader to take a more active, engaged role in the reading, to gather clues and possible indicators of what is to come. The objective point of view guides the reader into role as observer; it is up to he/she to decide the meaning of the ubiquitous black box or why the villagers seem so nervous about the drawing of the slips.
The point of view absolutely preserves suspense. If the story had been told from one of the villagers, or third person omniscient, it would have ruined the 'surprise' ending. Jackson's use of point of view keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the grisly ending, which is exactly as she intended.
References
This is a great question. The narrator of the short story is, indeed, a detached third person observer. From this perspective, we do not get the internal feelings from the villagers. In other words, we don't know what they are thinking, feeling, and anticipating. We don't get their real views, fears, and anxieties. All we are left with is a narrative, a play by play with no interpretation.
For example, Mrs. Hutchinson might be feeling great anxiety, but we don't get a sense of it. Here is what the narrator says:
Just as Mr. Summers finally left off talking and turned to the assembled villagers, Mrs. Hutchinson came hurriedly along the path to the square, her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into place in the back of the crowd.
All of this is dramatic, because the plot is climaxing toward a ritual murder, where someone will be stoned. The reader naturally thinks: "Can this really be happening?" In other words, suspense fills the narrative. An appropriate word that describes the story is eerie. Also because the detached narrative is so incompatible with the act of ritual murder, the reader is left feeling off-kilter. Again this adds to the suspense.