theme: Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"

Analyzing Theme: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

Americans day after day live much of their lives following time-honored traditions that are passed down from one generation to another. From simple everyday cooking and raising children, to holidays and other family rituals, tradition plays a significant role on how they go by there everyday lives. In Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery,” the citizens of a small farming town follow one such tradition. A point is made regarding human nature in relation to tradition. The story begins on a beautiful summer afternoon. The town’s citizens are eager, gathering in the town square in order to take part in the yearly lottery. With the story focused around one particular family, the Hutchinsons, who are so anxious to get it all over with until they find that one of their members is to participate in the lottery’s closing festivities, Tessie. Of course unlike your typical lotteries, this is not one that you would want to win. The one chosen from the lottery is to underta!

ke a cruel and unusual death by stoning at the hands of their fellow townsmen for the sake that it may bring a fruitful crop for the coming harvest season. Ironically, many of the towns people have sugges

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Old Man Warner being the oldest man in the town was looked upon with the utmost respect. The children seem to primitively grasp the concept of what the lottery means to the town as they play, protecting the stones as if they were gold. We must not isolate ourselves to what we think we know, but instead allow ourselves to comprehend. “Every year, after the lott!

ery, Mr. “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example. The town turns to tradition as a source of survival not truly grasping consequences. Though a sense of guilt can seen, through Summer’s want to hurry with the lottery so they can get it out of the way and be at ease, his comment about getting back to their work suggests ignorance. His concern is that the event be hurried so they may get back to work. Though their behavior appears to be rather ridiculous, their reasoning is valid. Tradition plays many roles in today’s society. ” (Jackson 428) This illustrates that the people would go to enormous lengths to ensure that traditions are followed and passed along. A symbol of the lottery’s ongoing legacy, the same box has been used for years.

Approximate Word count = 1317
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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