Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" portrays a small town in which the citizens gather for a yearly lottery. Unlike the "typical" lottery, this is not one you would want to win. Throughout "The Lottery," Jackson focuses on families from the village in order to demonstrate the role of separation of genders. Gender is defined as the sexual identity of a person, especially in relation to society or culture. Gender divisions exist within the community in "The Lottery" and issues of gender help to explain the characters action and thoughts.
During the lottery, everyone is equal and the society is genderless. Although the men draw as the head of the household, the women partake in the final rounds and the stoning of the victim. This is evident when "Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands"(200). This shows that even though women did not normally participate in town events, the lottery was an exception to the rule. Young girls were also equal to young boys during this event. Both the girls and the boys stoned the victim along with the rest of the community, regardless of gender. This suggests that the lottery serves as a great equalizer abolishing all forms of separation of gender.
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ALtough a lottery like this is unheard of in today's society, senseless violence like this still exists. Dunbar who will be drawing for her husband due to his absence in the lottery. This is due to the fact that in larger families, the chance of one person being chosen is reduced significantly with each additional member of teh family. Only if her family is chosen, is she allowed to pick a slip, determining if she will be stoned to death. There is also a gender separation among the young girls and boys. This shows their lack of power and low placement in society. Summers answers with astonishment, "wife draws for husband, don't you have a grown boy to do it for you"(196-7). Jackson portrays women as "wearing faded house dresses and sweaters. Because women are the producers of children, they are the main target of the lottery. Gender is sexual identity of a person, specifically in relation to society or culture.
Gender plays a role in the purpose of the lottery. Graves are men in the village, they are given the opportunity to administer the lotter.
Approximate Word count =
914
Approximate Pages =
4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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