The Lottery is a short story written by Shirley Jackson that was first published in 1948 in The New Yorker magazine. The story takes place in a small rural village and describes the annual lottery held there every summer. The lottery culminates in the violent public stoning of the “winner” – a member of the community who is randomly chosen by drawing slips of paper from a black box.
The Lottery explores themes related to ritual, tradition, superstition, cruelty, and the idea that societal norms and behaviors are not always ethical or just. The story has been interpreted as a commentary on the pointless violence and mass hysteria lurking beneath the surface of supposedly civilized communities. While it may seem shocking to contemporary readers, the actions depicted were based on actual events that occurred in some communities as recently as a hundred years ago.
The Lottery causes us to question tradition and conformity. It compels readers to think critically about the traditions and rituals we participate in as a society. Even if something has “always been done that way,” is it still valuable, ethical, or necessary? The story reminds us not to blindly follow traditions without stopping to consider their true purpose and meaning.
Plot Summary
The Lottery takes place on the morning of June 27th in a small rural village of about 300 residents. The day is sunny and pleasant, and the villagers are gathering in the town square to carry out their annual lottery.
The lottery is conducted in order to select one villager who will be stoned to death by the rest of the community- a ritual that is described as having great importance for the sake of a bountiful harvest. The stoning is implied to be a sacrifice made to guarantee prosperity for the town.
The lottery preparations start with Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves getting the equipment ready: paper slips for the families to draw from and stones to use as the weapons. Family heads come forward to select slips of paper from an old black wooden box. Bill Hutchinson ends up getting the paper with the ominous black dot, meaning his family has been chosen.
After it is confirmed that Bill has selected the black-dotted paper, the townspeople insist that each member of his family draw individually in order to determine who the chosen one will be. Bill’s wife Tessie ends up with the marked slip, and she protests the unfairness of the lottery process before the stoning commences. The townspeople, including her own family members, violently stone Tessie to death in order to ensure a fruitful harvest.
Characters
Tessie Hutchinson
– The unlucky “winner” of the lottery who is stoned to death by the end of the story.
– She arrives late to the village square where the lottery takes place.
– Initially goes along with the proceedings cheerfully until it becomes clear that her family has been chosen.
– Becomes agitated and upset when she ends up being the family member who draws the paper with the black mark.
– Protests that the process was unfair but is powerless to stop the stoning.
Bill Hutchinson
– Tessie’s husband and head of the Hutchinson family.
– Draws the marked paper during the first round that selects the Hutchinson family.
– Remains eerily silent and expressionless when Tessie is selected for stoning.
Mr. Summers
– The village official who directs the lottery proceedings.
– Carries out his duties in a business-like manner without any display of emotion.
– Represents how the ritual has become an empty tradition detached from its original meaning.
Old Man Warner
– The oldest man in the village who has participated in 77 lotteries.
– Staunch advocate for maintaining the tradition due to its benefits of crop prosperity.
– Dismisses any suggestion that the lottery should be stopped or altered.
– Represents the viewpoint that old customs should never be changed or challenged.
Themes
Blind Obedience to Tradition
A major theme explored in The Lottery is the danger of following traditions blindly. The villagers continue the annual lottery without thinking about its purpose or meaning simply because “it has always been done this way.” The ritual has been stripped of any symbolic significance and becomes an act of senseless violence. However, no one is willing to be the first to suggest ending the barbaric practice. The story warns against blind conformity and carrying out meaningless traditions that have lost their purpose over time.
Unquestioned Rituals and Customs
Closely tied to the theme of blind obedience is the theme of unquestioned rituals and customs. The villagers never stop to analyze whether performing the lottery each year still benefits their community or has any relevance. They adhere to the tradition without evaluating its effects. This demonstrates the potential danger of continuing established cultural practices without reflection. The story implies we should not assume rituals are positive or worthwhile simply because they are long-standing traditions in a community.
Groupthink and Mass Hysteria
Jackson also explores the psychological themes of groupthink and mass hysteria. Once the lottery begins, a mob mentality takes over the villagers and any rational or moral objections are suppressed. The story reveals how quickly a group of otherwise “normal” people can lose their compassion and sanity in the face of violent traditions. It highlights the human tendency to conform rather than stand out when collective action opposes our moral compass.
Cruelty and Violence Within Society
The central theme Jackson examines is the capacity for cruelty, violence, and scapegoating within human communities. The shocking conclusion vividly demonstrates how quickly friends and family can turn against someone and carry out savage mob justice. On the surface, this appears to be a civilized society. However, the lottery exposes the atavistic primal urges that lurk beneath the façade of modernization. It suggests that human beings are not so far removed from ancient practices of human sacrifice and sanctioned murder.
Analysis
Juxtaposition Between a Peaceful Setting and Violent Ritual
One technique Jackson uses to create ironic tension is the juxtaposition between the peaceful, idyllic setting and the brutal violence of the lottery. The story opens on a beautiful summer day with children playing and townspeople chatting amiably. The initial mood is happy and casual. This contrasts starkly with the unfolding ritual of human sacrifice. The discrepancy between the lovely day and the gruesome lottery emphasizes the story’s themes of adhering to tradition without thought for morality or reason.
Ambiguity Leaves Many Details Unknown
Jackson introduces ambiguity and unanswered questions throughout the narrative. We are never told exactly how the lottery tradition started or how long the village has held the ritual. Details about the original purpose are vague. Leaving so many aspects unclear makes the lottery seem irrational and mysterious. The lack of context around the ritual practice mirrors how the villagers themselves fail to consider its meaning or purpose.
First-Person Plural Narration Adds Sense of Complicity
Jackson’s use of a first-person plural narration style implicates the reader in the actions. The narrator is not just an objective observer but frequently uses “we” when describing the events, aligning readers with the villagers. This sense of complicity adds to the story’s impact by preventing the audience from distancing themselves from the horror. The “we” perspective forces readers to confront that they may not be so different from those committing the atrocity.
| Theme | How It’s Developed |
|---|---|
| Blind Obedience to Tradition | The villagers continue the lottery despite not knowing its origin or purpose just because “it has always been done.” |
| Unquestioned Rituals and Customs | No one stops to analyze if the lottery still benefits the community or is worthwhile. |
| Groupthink and Mass Hysteria | Once the lottery starts, a mob mentality takes over and objections are suppressed. |
| Cruelty and Violence Within Society | Friends and family violently turn against the lottery “winner” showing the capacity for savagery. |
Significance of the Black Box
The black box used in the lottery becomes a prominent symbol in the story. It represents the outdated, mysterious tradition at the heart of this ritual:
– The black box grew shabbier each year, reflecting how the ritual had become less meaningful over time.
– The box is splintered and stained, hinting at the pain and bloodshed associated with the ritual.
– Village elders refuse to replace the deteriorating box, demonstrating unwillingness to let go of the tradition or improve it.
– There are no longer any materials associated with the box explaining its history, underscoring the ignorance about the lottery’s purpose.
– The blackness contrasts with the bright, sunny day, suggesting this evil tradition has no place in their modern community.
Overall, the deteriorating black box epitomizes the dysfunction at the core of this community – blind obedience to vacant, barbaric traditions.
Foreshadowing
Jackson uses foreshadowing throughout the early parts of the story to provide hints about the darker twist unfolding:
– Children gathering stones early on hints that stones will play a role in violence.
– The lottery is mentioned alongside farming and rain, clues it has to do with crop prosperity.
– Townspeople joke about the lottery such as “Next thing you know they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves”.
– There are references to other nearby towns giving up the lottery – raising questions about its appropriateness.
– Townspeople avoid making eye contact, suggesting shame or guilt about the event.
– Summers waits to collect the stones until the end, hinting at their damning purpose.
This buildup prepares the reader for the shocking ritual without giving everything away prematurely. The hints build nervous tension, compelling us to keep reading to find out what happens.
Connection to Real World Events
While shocking in its graphic violence, The Lottery echoes real world events and human behaviors:
– Lotteries have historically been used to select human sacrifices. The story alludes to ancient rituals used to appease gods and bring prosperity.
– Public executions used to be common civic activities, with communities gathered to observe hangings.
– The Salem Witch Trials involved citizens turning against their own community members in irrational mob mentality and scapegoating.
– McCarthyism in the 1950s demonstrated how quickly people renounce friends and family deemed disloyal or dangerous by the majority.
– Jackson hints the lottery is an antiquated, barbaric act that has continued despite moral progress in other areas of society.
Critical Reception
When The Lottery was first published in 1948, it generated extremely negative and outraged responses from readers:
– Many found the story deeply disturbing and horrifying.
– Some called it “outrageously gruesome” while others deemed it “utterly pointless”.
– The New Yorker received hundreds of subscription cancellations due to backlash over publishing the story.
– It was banned from being taught in some schools and even from being sold in parts of South Africa.
Over time, critical reception became more positive as readers recognized the story’s artistic merit and analyzed its multiple complex themes:
– It is now hailed as a classic allegory that warns against blind obedience to tradition.
– Critics appreciate its examination of human cruelty and mob psychology.
– Literary scholars praise its effective use of foreshadowing and irony.
While still unsettling, the story is valued today as a thought-provoking social commentary and an impactful work of 20th century American literature.
Conclusion
Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery remains a haunting and relevant short story nearly 75 years after its publication. While shocking in its violent conclusion, the story provides thoughtful social commentary by warning against dangerous conformity, questioning senseless traditions, and revealing the capacity for brutality when individual responsibility gives way to groupthink. The lottery ritual represents how any community has the potential to carry out horrific acts when traditions go unchallenged. Jackson skillfully uses foreshadowing and juxtaposition to hint at the impending horror while maintaining narrative tension. This examination of arbitrary customs and mass hysteria continues to resonate with modern readers unsettled by the story’s stark message about human nature. The Lottery leaves a lasting impact, compelling us to reflect on our own communities, traditions, and willingness to inflict harm in the name of ritual.