A & P

It's very easy to apply a feminist criticism to the story A&P because there are multiple examples. I think the biggest reason your able to see these examples so well is because of the time period it was written in. Back in the 1960's things were much different, and lifestyles were not the same as they are now. In todays society it honestly wouldn't be that shocking to see 3 young girls walking around a grocery store in their bikinis. Back then though, it was a huge deal. The "social norm" of a woman back then was to be classy, dress appropriately, cook, clean, take care of all the things around the house. But in the story Queenie and her friends defy the social norm of everyones perspective on women by walking around in bikinis at the store. One thing that will forever be the same is that these girls with or without intention will catch the eye of a man. In this story they just so happen to catch the eye of a cashier boy, Sammy. He's intrigued by these girls and watches then while they roam the store. His boss Lengel on the other hand wants nothing to do with it. He tells the girls they are not allowed to dress like that in the store because its policy. Their shoulders were too bare. I feel like Lengel was put in the story as an anti-feminist character. He is the one that is supposed to show how much the majority of people back then felt. Queenie argues the fact that she is doing nothing wrong which is again something against the norm. Not only does queenie stand up for what she thinks is right, but so does Sammy. He didn't like the way Lengel had spoken to the girls so he quit his job. Standing up the girls the only way he knew how.

The Story of an Hour

Mrs. Mallard
Brently is gone for a couple days on business. Who wants to have a girls night?!
11:00am Sept.15
      3 people like this
11:45am Josephine- You know I'm in!!

Mrs. Mallard
Almost time for Brently to come home. It's been a great few days with my girl! - With Josephine
4:00pm Sept. 18
      2 people like this
4:50pm Josephine- Can't wait for next time!!

Mrs. Mallard
You're not home yet and you won't answer my calls.. Where are you? -With Brently Mallard
1:00pm Sept. 19
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Mrs. Mallard
Today is a day i'll remember forever. I can't believe Brently was taken from me.. I'll be keeping his Facebook page open for anyone that wants to write fond memories or anything they will miss about him.. -Feeling confused - With Brently Mallard.
5:00pm Spet. 19
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Mrs. Mallard

6:00pm Sept. 19

      30 people like this

Mrs. Mallard

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?list=194414&id=944709#.UjkeQMYsnE8

We all miss you Brently.. </3

9:00am Sept. 20

      15 people like this

Mrs. Mallard

So upset.. So lost.....

11:00am Sept. 20

No comments

Mrs. Mallard

I don't want anymore sympathy messages.. I just want to grieve in peace..

1:00pm Sept. 20

Comments:

1:15pm Richard- Do I need to come over?.. I'm worried about you..

Mrs. Mallard

I haven't left this spot in days.. 

3:00pm Sept. 20

Comments:

Josephine- You're going to make yourself sick! You need to get out of that house.. 

Mrs. Mallard

Free, free, free! I can finally live for myself!!!!

9:00pm Sept. 20

Comments:

9:05pm Richard- What???? I'm coming over! What's going on??

9:07pm Josephine- Me too! This is getting out of control!

10:00pm Brently Mallard- Did I miss something??

Mrs. Mallard closed her account.

Orientation

You’re the new girl right? Okay come here and listen up. You've got a lot to learn. There are a lot of little details and things to remember. Here at McDonald's things can be pretty crazy. Number one rule is don’t be late and if you are then lie. But don’t get caught. Sandra can be a real you know what. Anyways another key rule; don’t ever ask if you should be doing something. You should just know. Clean the tables, mop the floors, and restock the bathroom things like that. Make sure you go into the cleaning supplies cabinet and read the instructions printed out. They should be hung up on the wall but if not they are probably on the floor or somewhere in there. Just figure it out. You’ll probably start out cleaning up the place but eventually you’ll get moved to the kitchen just like everyone else does. But don’t flatter yourself, that’s just because people piss off Sandra in the kitchen and then god knows what happens to them after. I’ll just tell you what the kitchen is about. Basically your going to see some stuff that you’re not going to like and that’s is probably going to gross you out. But you can’t say anything about it and don’t let it phase you. There will be feathers in the nuggets, hair in the food.. you know stuff like that. Some employees here get mad and spit in peoples food. Just look past it okay? If you say anything about you’ll hear from Sandra so just don’t. Trust me. Anyways, I think you’re on the clock now. Go to that cabinet and clean the men’s bathroom. I heard it’s bad so, good luck. 

A good man is hard to find

A good man is hard to find is definitely a grotesque story. As the reader you initially wouldn’t see it that way. It starts off as a normal family wanting to take a road trip but unsure where they want to go. As the story proceeds you come to find that the parents in this story are very passive and submissive when it comes to taking care of their children. The children are bratty, sassy, rude, and disrespectful with no regards of their actions and the parents do nothing about it. The grandmother on the other hand is the only character in the story who tries to make the children aware of their negative behavior.

I would definitely say that the grandmother in this story is a very grotesque character and adds to the grotesqueness of the story.  This woman throughout the story pinpoints the very definition of the word. She is racist, comments on social status, very opinionated and stereotypical. She shows her racism in the story where she points out a “pickaninny”, (children of black decent) and proceeds to explain to her grandchildren how, “Little nigger in the country don’t have things like we do” (Pg 499). The statement she makes also comments on social status inferring that they have much better things than the “negro people”. She also is very stereotypical in the sense that she tells a story of how a little black boy stole and ate a watermelon off her front porch.

Another aspect of this story being grotesque would definitely have to be how the story ends. The story up until the very end keeps you thinking about the outcome. You think, will they be killed by The Misfit? Is there foreshadowing in the title? Do you think maybe he will have a revelation and turn out good and they won’t be killed? Many thoughts enter the readers mind. But in the end, it turns out to be true that the title indeed does have some foreshadowing. The setting of how the family is executed in the woods by being shot is very unsettling, making this story a very grotesque one in my opinion. 

The Lottery

"The Lottery" concerns itself with the concept that it can be acceptable to require the individual to sacrifice for the greater good. I'm not really sure on what the "greater good"is that they are talking about here. Stoning someone no matter what the reason seems unethical in my eyes. Maybe it was due to some over population the village/town was having, or maybe it was a type of punishment like hanging someone or the death penalty. The thing that really made me uncomfortable about this story was the fact that everyone, including the children were so accepting of this lottery. In the beginning of the story the children were gathering stones and playing around laughing like it as just another day outside. But later in the story you come to find that the kids were gathering the stones that could potentially kill themselves, their families or their friends. It's a bit unsettling. I almost had a sense of hurt for the people who suggested that they shouldn't do the Lottery anymore but just got shut right down. Everyone seemed accepting of the Lottery until it's them being chosen. Tessie is a perfect example of this. She showed up late with her apron still on unworried about being picked. But once her husband was the one chosen she cried out that it "wasn't fair", and "he didn't have enough time". Ironically, Tessie was the one that was chosen to be stoned in end.