In 'The Lottery', the lottery symbolizes the danger of following traditions without thinking. The people in the village just do it because it's always been done. The black box is a symbol of the past. It's all beat - up and no one really knows how old it is, showing that the tradition is old and maybe should be re - evaluated. The stones are symbols of the mob mentality. Everyone picks up a stone and joins in the stoning, which shows how a group can do bad things when they follow the crowd.
The lottery itself can be seen as a symbol. It stands for the blind acceptance of authority and tradition in society. The villagers don't question the lottery's existence or its rules. They just follow it year after year, which symbolizes how people can be submissive to long - established but perhaps unjust systems.
The main signs and symbols in 'Signs and Symbols' short story can be diverse. There could be symbols related to nature, like a withering flower which might symbolize the decay of hope or the transience of beauty. The actions of the characters can also be signs. For instance, if a character is constantly looking out of the window, it could be a sign of their longing for something outside their current situation, perhaps a symbol of their search for meaning or a way out of their problems.
The nose itself is a major symbol. It represents status and vanity. In the story, when the nose detaches and becomes an important figure, it shows how much society values outward appearance and rank.
The main symbol in 'A Poison Tree' is the tree itself. It symbolizes the growth of anger. Another symbol could be the poisoned apple which represents the deadly outcome of the unexpressed anger.
Well, in 'The Blind Man' short story, light and darkness are significant symbols. Light often represents knowledge, hope, or enlightenment. The blind man being in the dark (literally and perhaps metaphorically) can be seen as his lack of access to this enlightenment. Also, the objects that the blind man interacts with, like a cane, could symbolize his independence or his struggle to navigate a world he can't fully perceive.
The landscape in the story can also be a symbol. If it is set in a desert or near a river, for example, these natural elements can symbolize different things. A river could be a symbol of life - giving force, of change and movement, while a desert might represent the harshness of life or the need for endurance.
The most obvious symbol is the 'Flowering Judas' itself. It likely represents betrayal as Judas is a well - known figure associated with betrayal in the Bible. The flowers could symbolize a false front, something that looks beautiful on the outside but hides a negative truth inside.
Perhaps an old family heirloom could be a main symbol in the 'Rituals of Memory' short story. It represents the connection to the past and the family's history, and the ritual of passing it down from one generation to another.
One of the main themes is tradition. The lottery in the story has been carried out for a long time, and the villagers blindly follow it without really questioning its morality or purpose. Another theme is violence. The stoning at the end shows the cruel and violent nature that can be hidden within a community under the guise of tradition.
The theme is about the dark side of human nature. The villagers seem normal at first, but when it comes to the lottery, they turn cruel. It reveals how easily people can become violent and inhumane under the guise of tradition, without really thinking about what they are doing.