"The Lottery" is a short story written by Shirley Jackson that was first published in 1948. The story takes place in a small town on a summer day, and follows the townspeople as they participate in an annual tradition known as the lottery.
At first glance, the lottery seems like a harmless and even festive event, with the townspeople gathering together and chatting while they wait for the ceremony to begin. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the lottery is actually a violent and disturbing tradition.
The lottery is overseen by Mr. Summers, the town's postmaster, and involves the drawing of slips of paper from a black box. Each slip of paper has a name written on it, and the person whose name is drawn is then subjected to a brutal stoning by the rest of the town. The purpose of the lottery is never explicitly stated in the story, but it is suggested that it is a way for the town to maintain social cohesion and perhaps even to appease some unknown deity.
The story follows the character of Tessie Hutchinson, a middle-aged housewife who is chosen as the victim of the lottery. Despite her protests and pleas for mercy, the townspeople proceed with the stoning, showing how deeply ingrained and accepted the tradition is within the community.
Jackson uses the lottery as a metaphor for the arbitrary and destructive nature of tradition and the dangers of blindly following social norms. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following tradition and the importance of questioning authority and challenging the status quo.
Overall, "The Lottery" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that challenges readers to consider the implications of tradition and the dangers of blindly following authority.
The Lottery Quotes: Hypocrisy
Dave is a young child, so Mr. Summers asks for help as he randomly mixes the pieces of paper, and Mr. The only consistent thing with the tradition and the people keeping it is violence, an issue that stands out as a priority. The adults of the town arrive soon after. Early details, such as sun and flowers, all have positive connotations, and establish the theme of the juxtaposition of peace and violence. The last date is today's date â the date you are citing the material.
Analysis of 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson
Jackson struggled with both mental and physical illnesses as an adult. There was the proper swearing-in of Mr. Delacroix that she forgot what day it was. Summers is bright and cheerful. Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes. Unlike the other women in the town, Tessie seems to play a more active role in her marriage. Tessie is late to the lottery, having forgotten what day it is, and laughs that she couldn't leave her dishes in her sink.
A Summary and Analysis of Shirley Jacksonâs âThe Lotteryâ
Summers is quick to arrive on time. Summers says that they had better get started and get this over with so that everyone can go back to work. For example, Jackson writes, "The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago," and "at one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the lottery used to stand just so when he said or sang it, others believed that he was supposed to walk among the people, but years and years ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse. Graves's barn and another year underfoot in the post office, and sometimes it was set on a shelf in the Martin grocery and left there. The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born. Clark for his education and intellect.
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