The characters of Tessie Hutchinson in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" both undergo intense emotional experiences in their respective stories, revealing much about individuals' responses to societal expectations, personal desires, and freedom. While their stories differ greatly in setting and plot, both characters share a complex relationship with societal norms, ultimately revealing the tension between personal freedom and social conformity. Below, we will compare and contrast these two fascinating characters in terms of their initial situations, responses to pivotal moments, and the outcomes of their stories. Tessie Hutchinson begins "The Lottery" as a seemingly ordinary woman, participating in a ritualistic tradition in her small town. She is initially depicted as cheerful and nonchalant, arriving late to the lottery but blending in with the others. As the story unfolds, Tessie is revealed to be the victim of the lottery, selected for sacrifice by her own community. The ritual's shocking conclusion reveals Tessie's victimization, as she protests the unfairness of the lottery when it is revealed that she is to be stoned to death by her family and friends. Tessie’s role in the lottery emphasizes how society enforces blind conformity and how individual rebellion is viewed with resentment and even hostility. In contrast, Louise Mallard in "The Story of an Hour" initially appears to be a woman constrained by the institution of marriage. When she learns of her husband’s death, Louise experiences an overwhelming sense of freedom and relief. Unlike Tessie, who is part of a community's social ritual, Louise is isolated and reflects inwardly on the freedom she now feels. However, Louise's newfound liberation is short-lived, as she dies from the shock of seeing her husband alive, which undercuts the idea of freedom that her brief moment of joy had promised. Both characters exist within restrictive social frameworks: Tessie in a communal tradition that demands blind obedience, and Louise in a traditional marriage that limits her autonomy. Their experiences expose how personal desires clash with societal roles, and both women experience a tragic awakening to the realities of their situations. At the beginning of "The Lottery", Tessie Hutchinson is a somewhat carefree and apathetic participant in the lottery. She is like most of the townspeople, not questioning the tradition or the ritual. It’s only when her name is drawn that she becomes aware of the gravity of the situation, and her initial reaction is one of protest—she claims that the lottery is unfair and demands that it be done over. This sudden emotional outburst reveals a shift from passive participation to a conscious realization of her own vulnerability within the societal structure. However, even in her protest, Tessie does not question the larger cultural system but only the method of the lottery. Her reaction is driven more by self-preservation than any desire for social change. In the end, Tessie’s plea for fairness is ignored, and her ultimate sacrifice underscores the destructive nature of conformity and collective violence. In contrast, Louise Mallard's reaction to her husband's death is one of profound relief. When she first hears the news, her initial grief is quickly replaced by an overwhelming sense of freedom. She contemplates her new life, imagining a future where she is no longer subject to her husband’s domineering influence. Louise reflects on how she had been repressed in her marriage and, in her private thoughts, envisions a life full of autonomy. Unlike Tessie, Louise’s reaction reveals an individual’s desire for freedom and an awakening to her personal agency. Louise recognizes how society's expectations have shaped her role as a wife, and her moment of liberation symbolizes the potential for personal fulfillment outside of these constraints. Tessie’s climax in "The Lottery" occurs when her name is drawn, and her protest against the unfairness of the lottery intensifies. She becomes the central figure in the ritual of stoning, and the collective violence of the town unfolds in a horrifying and cathartic moment. Tessie's final moments are tragic, as she faces violent death at the hands of the very people she once considered her friends and family. The brutality of the ending highlights the horrific consequences of blind conformity and complicity within a society that does not question its traditions, even when they result in injustice and death. In contrast, Louise’s climax occurs when she descends from her room, having embraced her newfound freedom. Her sense of liberation is short-lived, as her husband, Brently Mallard, enters the house alive and unharmed. Louise’s sudden shock at seeing him alive causes her to collapse and die. The irony of her death reflects the fragility of human desire for freedom, and the ultimate tragedy is that Louise's moment of joy was built on a false premise. Her death, which is ruled as caused by "the joy that kills", symbolizes the inaccessibility of true freedom within the confines of marriage and societal norms. Both Tessie Hutchinson and Louise Mallard are women whose lives are shaped by societal structures—Tessie by communal traditions and Louise by the institution of marriage. Both women experience moments of awakening that reveal the tension between personal freedom and social conformity. Tessie’s tragic end highlights the consequences of blind adherence to societal expectations, where individual desires are sacrificed for the collective good, even at the cost of humanity. On the other hand, Louise's brief moment of liberation suggests that even when personal freedom seems within reach, it is often undermined by society’s control over women’s roles. Where Tessie’s rebellion is ultimately ineffective and results in death, Louise’s moment of self-awareness is ironic, as it ends with her premature death—a poignant reflection on the limitations placed on women’s freedom within their marital roles. Both women are victims of society’s constraints, but their stories serve as commentaries on the human desire for autonomy, the illusion of freedom, and the consequences of defying social roles. The comparison of Tessie Hutchinson from Shirley Jackson’s "The Lottery" and Louise Mallard from Kate Chopin’s "The Story of an Hour" offers an insightful look at the intersection of freedom, societal expectations, and individual desires. While both women initially seem to conform to societal roles, their stories ultimately explore the tragedy of realizing personal agency only to have it thwarted by social norms and external circumstances. Tessie’s victimization at the hands of her community and Louise’s tragic death after her moment of liberation reflect the limits of freedom for women within the traditional frameworks of society. These two stories serve as poignant reminders of the struggles for autonomy, and the consequences that come when those struggles are met with unforeseen and often fatal outcomes.Comparison and Contrast of Tessie Hutchinson in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"
1. Tessie Hutchinson’s Role in The Lottery vs. Louise Mallard’s Role in The Story of an Hour
2. Initial Reactions and Personal Agency
3. The Climax and Their Final Moments
4. Thematic Comparisons: Freedom and Conformity
5. Conclusion