In reading both of these short stories there was an overarching theme of followership and the effect that it has on an entire culture. When growing up within a cultured tradition it can be difficult to see outside of this tradition, as it is all you know. If there is nothing else to compare that one experience to, it is understandable as to why it has never been changed. Still, this does not mean the members of the community cannot question the tradition. Although I have little experience, I am sure that all cultures generally have a rule that each member should not kill or harm one another—as this is ethically and practically necessary to maintain a civil society. In the lottery, their killings eventually happen more and more frequently yet it is never questioned. This practice goes against the basic necessity to maintain a society but, since it is agreed upon by the society it became part of their norm and how they maintain a civil society.
The story of Omelas is a bit different, for me, in that it is a question of ethics and less of tradition and followership. The child in the room is being abused and everyone knows it. Yet, according to their rules, it is necessary to keep the child in the room so that everyone else may remain happy. This is somewhat of a trolley problem–do you sacrafice one life for the life of hundreds of others or is each life valued the same and therefore the child should be released from the room despite the consequences. I believe that this story is beyond followership because there is an aspect of tradition and fear. No one exactly knows what would happen if the child was released hence why it has become a rule to keep the child in the room. This cannot simply be deemed bad followership and failure to question authority because the entire town could be killed once the child is released. Both of these stories are complex in the themes that they bring about on what would be ethically or logistically best for each town.
I really like how you related The Lottery to culture overall because it definitely plays apart in the way that many people behave. This reminds me a lot of group think and how difficult it is to dissent from a tradition that you have been raised to follow. Also, I really like how you created these over arching themes within each story and tied it back to leadership and ethics because although these stories were paired together there themes are not necessarily the same even though they both offer compelling ideologies that should be critically thought about.
I like how you compared the lottery to ethics in culture. This is a great short story of how people follow tradition blindly even if it is not good.
I agree with your comparison of Omelas and ethics and less of tradition and leadership. I found it surprising that these killings kept happening more and more frequently and like you said no one questioned that this is wrong which I found to be unusual.
I think it is interesting how people follow social norms or traditions even if they have no idea where it is rooted form or how it was implemented. Like most people don’t know where the tooth fairy came from but still are told when they are children to put it under their pillow and that when you awake the next morning there will be money under your pillow.
I found it interesting that you related the story with the Omelas to not only leadership but both tradition and fear. Like you said the Omelas don’t know what’s going to happen if the child is released which is why they keep him locked up. People do not like the unknown which is why we stick to traditions and why change can be difficult to make.