Coming Soon: The Lottery

Plot

I decided to choose "The Lottery" for my short story adaptation because I think much could be done in line with the theme and because it had a scary theme which I think would help to involve the audience. In terms of plot, I thought the way it was set up in the short story was adequate for a story, but for a movie, much would need to be added. I think that before the surprise ending of what the Lottery really is, there would need to be some background on the town itself and the individual characters as well. If I was making "The Lottery" into a movie, I would not begin the story with the lottery, but instead would follow the town and the workings of the individual families before the lottery. I think this would add more sympathy for the characters and the way in which they live. I also think this would allow the viewer to see the extent of the blind acceptance of this long-standing tradition. In terms of the lottery part of the plot, I think I would keep most of it the same. I would add more dialogue between the characters during this section, but keep most of the plot the same.

Point of View

While reading the short story, I liked the 3rd person omniscient point of view and I think I would keep this for the movie. Many movies may begin and end in a specific point of view, but the between is difficult to pinpoint exactly what the point of view is. This is how I would design this film. I would start off jumping from person to person like the whole town was telling the story, but would progress into the action and because of this, the point of view would be lost. This is common in most movies because the audience does not want to sit and listen to people telling the story, they want action. For this reason, I would have the point of view fade in and out, so that the audience doesn't get bored, but they still pick up on the theme of the whole town being in on this long-standing tradition. These changes may cause the audience to lose some of the theme of the blind acceptance, but I think for the most part, this theme would not be lost.

Characterization

I liked the indirect characterization of the characters in "The Lottery" and would keep it this way in the movie adaptation. Through conversations and actions, I would reveal small snippets of the characters personalities so the audience could meet the characters rather than being told about them. Some changes with characterization would be that the audience would get to meet the characters before the day of the lottery, so they would get to see them in everyday life. I think this would enhance the short story, because instead of just seeing the characters in a stressful situation, the audience would get to see them when they are normal. This would help to illuminate the theme of blind acceptance because it would show that in everyday life, these people are normal, but because of this tradition, they turn into monsters. I think this would add to the work also because the audience would be able to better relate to the characters as they go through everyday life rather than just believing these people are crazy killers.

Setting

In my adaptation of the short story, the setting would be much more complex. In the short story, the only setting is June 27th on a clear and sunny day and the town square. In the movie, there would be more complex and stereotypical settings of a small town. For example, a town court house in the square and a clock tower. The houses would also reflect stereotypes of small towns. This would add to the meaning because it would emphasize the small town and the people/society being cut off from other influences and technologies. They were very old fashioned in the story and I think setting could help to show this. I would also emphasize the fact that they are cut off from other people who could influence the town to stop the brutality in their tradition.

Theme

Because the themes of "The Lottery" were the main part of the story that caused me to like this story while also being scared by it, I would try to change the themes as little as possible. I would be sure to still convey the theme of blind acceptance of traditions and accepting what authority tells you to do. I found these themes to be true even today and I think they are very important to the story. I would do this by keeping it so mostly everyone accepts the tradition, even the victims family members. I would still include the scene where the Adams mention stopping the lottery, but like in the story, it will be a small detail which passes quickly. Through the plot and setting, I would convey the old-fashion ways of the town which also help to establish the theme. by only making slight changes to the story while adding much on, I think the themes and meanings could remain and even enhance the short story.

Shawshank Redemption- Movie v Short Story

Plot

The book version and movie version of "Shawshank Redemption" are extremely similar to each other, the movie varying only slightly from the book. For instance, the reasoning why Red and Andy are in prison, the manner in which Andy escapes, and the grueling situation with the sisters are a few of the details which remain the same between the two. One difference that I did find while watching the movie was that Red doesn't look back at his past time in jail before Andy came as often in the book. The movie is more focused on Red's relationship with Andy and the times that they spend together. Also one part of the plot which differs is in the book is that the wardens do not remain the same as they do in the movie. In the movie, Mr. Norton, the warden remains the only warden throughout the story while in the book, the wardens change throughout. Another difference between the movie and book is that in the book, Andy set up a false identity and put all of his money under this false person. Andy explains this by saying "outside these walls, Red, there's a man that no living soul has ever seen face to face. He has a Social Security card and a Maine driver's license. He's got a birth certificate. Name of Peter Stevens." In the movie, Andy describes the fake identity he set up, saying the exact same thing. The only difference is that instead of his friend setting it up from the outside, Andy sets this fake person up from the inside of jail and instead of it being his money, it it the warden's dirty money. I found this to be a nice addition to the plot.

Point of View

The point of view also remains the same between the movie and book. Red tells the entire story from his point of view and from stories he has heard and things he has assumed. I still found Red to be a trustworthy narrator because although he committed murder, he is honest as he was "the only guilty man in Shawshank." One difference is that the narration did stray slightly from Red's perspective as the action of the story took place, but it always returned to the booming voice of Morgan Freeman, who plays Red, telling Andy's story. Red also does not include the part at the end about the story being "all about me, every damned word of it." Although this part is left out of the movie, the main theme of the caged bird is not taken out, but more of that is to come later.

Characterization

While watching the movie, I found myself realizing that the characterization throughout the story is more indirect that direct. The characters are developed more through stories and happenings in the story rather than by Red just saying "they [the sisters] are to prison society what the rapist is to the society outside the walls." While some direct characterization is present i feel that the indirect characterization, such as the sisters brutally raping and beating Andy, has more of an impact on the viewer than the direct. I believe that for the movie, this works because the viewer will become more sympathetic and understanding when they see a brutal act going on rather than just hearing one being retold. One similarity in characterization is Red and Andy being foil characters. I feel that this is portrayed even more strongly in the movie because you can see how they work together and keep each other going. For instance, Andy's endless hope and Red's hopelessness. These two characters allow the story to be dynamic and interesting because of their contrasting views and attitudes.

Setting

The settings in the book and short story are also similar, but I felt that the movie was much more vivid and easier to follow the setting as expected with a movie. The remake of the movie from the book followed the setting in the book well. The exercise yard, showers/bathrooms, library, laundry room, and outside world followed the book in a precise manner. One additional setting in the movie is "Zihuatanejo." In the book, Red only speaks about this place saying "I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams," but he never actually makes it to the Pacific in the book as the story ends before the reader sees him reach his destination. In the movie, the Pacific and the beach at Zihuatanejo become a setting when Red reaches the Pacific and finds Andy. I believe that this setting added to the theme of freedom and a new life for Andy and Red.

Theme

For the most part I found the themes to be the same between the book and the movie. The movie not only followed the plot well, but it also portrayed the same themes. I found the biggest themes to be in the simile of the bird, comparing Andy to a bird who "is not meant to be caged." I found this theme of freedom to be very inspiring. Also, the theme of hope is still present in the movie, but the viewer gets to see Red and Andy's positive hope become a reality for the two. I also found some other major themes in the movie which I did not originally pick out during the short story. I found a theme of perseverance when Red said Andy "crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side." Although Red is speaking about Andy escaping through the sewers, I also saw this as him saying that Andy had to go through much unhappiness and dirty business, but in the end, he came out clean and happy. I also picked up on the theme of friendship in the most unlikely place with two unlikely people, as this is what Red and Andy's friendship is all about.

"You're Ugly, Too" by: Lorrie Moore

Alright so with this story I don't even know where to start. For me, this story was extremely odd and it seems to have no point to it, the ending especially. I was confused as to why she attempted to push the guy off of the balcony. Anyways one part of the story that was unique was the random italicized sections. When reading through this I took these sections as comments that her students or other people had to say about her. I felt that these helped to reveal Zoe's character and what people thought about her. I also found it odd that the two sisters, Zoe and Evan, kept such life altering secrets from each other. Zoe neglected to tell her sister that she might possibly have cancer and is having tests done to find out what the large growth was in her abdomen. Evan doesn't tell her sister that she is engaged until Zoe tells her she should get married. It seems to me that these two sisters are not as close as was originally portrayed with their weekly phone conversations. It seems that they like to believe they are best friends, but in reality they are not in touch personally and they don't really understand each other.

"The Drunkard" by: Frank O'Connor

I found this story to be very humorous. Could you imagine a young child, possibly 10, walking down the street drunk beyond belief and cursing at old women. To me, this seemed funny because it was so unexpected. Also, the fact that the father is getting a sort of "karma" was also funny to me. Every time the father relapses into his alcoholism, the family has to put up with the embarrassment and other problems that come along with his problem. For once, the father has to be lucid enough to be embarrassed himself. His drunk son who stole his beer in a bar is embarrassing him as he walks drunk down the street. If this isn't karma, then I don't know what is.

"The Lottery" by: Shirley Jackson

Today, lotteries are seen as something which should be looked forward to and are seen as positive. What's not good about winning loads of money? For this reason, when seeing the title of "The Lottery," the reader expects an excited and happy reaction when the winner of the "lottery" is revealed. Much to their surprise, Mrs. Hutchinson is very unhappy and distraught over her family winning the "lottery." All she can say is "It isn't fair, it isn't right." The reader realizes that the "lottery" is not winning money, but instead winning a horrible death for no reason at all other than because it is tradition. This is far from what is suggested by the title. Just as the title suggests no peril or death, the people convey this type of attitude. They have no remorse or hesitation is "rewarding" Mrs. Hutchinson with her prize. It almost seems that they show the same level of enthusiasm as a person would in presenting the winner of a lottery today with a big check.

"Popular Mechanics" by: Raymond Carver

When reading this story, I first concentrated on the parents literal fight over the baby. When looking more deeply, I saw that it was really about the destruction divorce has on the children in a family. This is the conflict of the story. Like the parents in the story are ripping the child apart and pulling the child back and forth, a divorce can affect a child like this emotionally as well. Custody battles and fights over a child's love can emotionally rip a child apart. I believe that this is essentially what this story is about. This story also satires the selfishness of parents who fight over their children. When the parents are saying "Don't... You're hurting the baby." and "I'm not hurting the baby the author shows the immaturity and selfishness of the parents. They are looking for what they want over the well-being and happiness of their own child. They would rather hurt their child rather than compromise with each other. The conflict is resolved by showing that eventually, the fighting will tear the family apart.