The Oculist

This is a powerful iconic piece of literature. The village folk gather and the beautiful summer’s day and the setting are juxtaposed with a dark ritualistic conclusion. Much like Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring ballet, it caused outrage as primordial powers are unleashed in the community to sacrifice one of their own for a good corn harvest. The notion of a lottery is usually associated with untrammeled joy and hope. Here the lottery is tainted with death whose “prize”, the black dot, is to be avoided at all costs. The inclusion of children who are given pebbles, heightens the unease. It is not an easy read and it did cause controversy, but through a writer’s eyes it is a masterpiece.

Extremely slow going and hard to get into. Mr Jellybrand and Mr Hempseed? I mean, really? I can see why it got rejected and needs the sugared candy of stage and lighting to bring any kind of life into it. Turgid with rigormortis. So in passing this one by, I also happily bury the very long strange contorted names which drag down the pace like a literary lead anchor: Comtesse de Tournay de Basserive or Benjamin Incledon. ?!?! A very strong idea but poorly executed.