The Use of Setting in "The Lottery"
Shirley Jackson effectively uses setting in “The Lottery” to foreshadow an ironic ending. In many stories, settings are constructed to help build the mood and to foreshadow of things to come. The story sets up the reader to expect good things from the lottery. However, the description of the setting foreshadows exactly the opposite of what the reader expects. Shirley Jackson develops this through a description of the physical setting, a general description of the residents, and subtle hints throughout the story. The story begins with the establishment of the setting. To begin, Shirley Jackson tells the reader what time of day and what time of year the story takes place. This is important to get the reader to focus on what a typical day it is in this small town. The setting set forth by Shirley Jackson in the beginning of the story creates a mood of peacefulness and tranquility. It also creates a visual image in the mind of the reader of a typical town on a normal summer day. Shirley Jackson tells you that school has . . .
These descriptions make the reader get the idea that there is a perfectly normal town. The men are described as gathering together and talking about “planting and rain, tractors and taxes. ” The women of this community were “exchanging bits of gossip. The introduction of the black box is the key turning point for the mood. She describes the grass as “richly green” and that “the flowers were blooming profusely. ” These descriptions of the surroundings give the reader a serene feeling about the town and provide a feeling of good things to come and let the reader relax into what seems to be a comfortable setting for the story. just been let out so you know that it is early summer. ” The black box is the key that changes the mood from serene and peaceful to ominous. The reader does not really pay attention to this detail until the end of the story when you learn what the rocks are for. It is not until the villagers start drawing for the lottery that the reader gets the feeling that the lottery is not a good thing. After the introduction of the black box, the villagers become uneasy. The black box symbolizes death for the villagers though the reader does not know it yet. She describes the children gathering together and breaking into “boisterous play. She mentions no authority figures other than Mr.
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