"The Lottery" is a short story written by Shirley Jackson. This story portrays many underlying themes. Inequalities between gender and class, and a little sacrificial violence are deeply seeded within the story. Shirley Jackson wrote "The Lottery" to make her readers aware of the violence, inequality of gender, and class inequity that surrounds society.
             When Shirley Jackson wrote "The Lottery" she "hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to chock the story's readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence...in their own lives. (Kosenko 1). Mrs. Delacroix, who gives the impression of being Tessie Hutchinson's friend, "selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands (Jackson 787)." Both of the instances show that violence in the community has been accepted as condonable in the name of sacrifice. "The children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles (Jackson 787)." The violence becomes unconscious because the children are taught at an early age, before they can learn the reasons or the consequences of their actions (Kosenko 1).
             Class discrimination is evident from the beginning of the story. Mr. Summers, the owner of the coal company, Mr. Graves, the postmaster, and
             Mr. Martin, owner of the grocery store, are the most powerful men in town (Kosenko 1). These men not only control the town economically as well as politically but also happen to be the ones who conduct the lottery (Kosenko 1). When Mr. Summers asks "some of you fellows want to give me a hand? (Jackson 782)" there is feigned hesitation before Mr. Martin and his son Baxter step up to steady the box. The villagers are unconsciously aware that they are unable to lend assistance because of their social status (Kosenko 1).
             Woman as an inferior is a concealed theme in "The...