Accounts Quote by Shirley Jackson
“I took my coffee into the dining room and settled down with the morning paper. A woman in New York had had twins in a taxi. A woman in Ohio had just had her seventeenth child. A twelve-year-old girl in Mexico had given birth to a thirteen-pound boy. The lead article on the woman's page was about how to adjust the older child to the new baby. I finally found an account of an axe murder on page seventeen, and held my coffee cup up to my face to see if the steam might revive me.”
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Lottery” (published 1948) – actually a different story; the quote appears in “The Haunting of Hill House” excerpt, 1959
The narrator uses shocking news headlines to illustrate humanity’s constant exposure to tragedy, seeking distraction in mundane rituals.
In simple terms: People are surrounded by tragedy and seek normalcy.
Key Takeaway
Find moments of calm amid chaos.
Themes
tragedy
media
distraction
normalcy
Mood
somber
introspective
analytical
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- reading newspaper
- drinking coffee
- processing news
- seeking escape
Key Concepts
psychology
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope with overwhelming news?
- Can routine help process grief?
A Different Perspective
Escapism may numb awareness of real issues.
