Lottery

A detailed Summary of Lottery

Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” depicts a seemingly average village with average citizens. The citizens of this village participate in an annual lottery in which the winner will be stoned to death. It is believed that the death of the winner will bring heartier crops to the village. Jackson introduces the lottery as a tradition that has been performed and will be done for many years to come. Jackson also stresses the importance of human nature, which is that humans are conditioned to do what is taught since birth. “The Lottery” tells that it is not tradition but ignorance and cowardness which justify the ritual.

In the beginning of the story Jackson paints a picture of a normal village getting ready to celebrate a joyous occasion. She goes further by setting the time of the event. “The people of the village began to gather in the square… so it can begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner” (74). The villagers’ acceptance of the lottery and its schedule is justified by tradition. Although some people will read this an

Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”, Literature and the Writing Process. Elizabeth McMahn, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 5th Ed. Upper Saddle, NJ: Prentice Hall 1999. 74-79.

he believes it’s right. He no longer questions the ritual but accepts it; therefore he can gleefully contribute to his mother’s murder.

In the last scene, Tessie Hutchinson picks the paper form the black box that reveals a black dot. She is the one that will be stoned to death. The reader can see that Jackson foreshadows the death of Tessie Hutchinson by her happily engagement in the lottery and then her rejection as her family was picked. Readers might read this and say that she was not forced to join the lottery so she must accept the consequences. But this also shows that human nature makes Mrs. Hutchinson reluctant to accept the final decision. She then realizes the insanity of the lottery when it is to late. Also at her stoning, her little son helps gather the rocks and participates in the murder of his mother. “The children has stones already, and someone gave little Davey Hutchinson a few pebbles.” (79). Readers will read this and argue that stoning is part of the tradition and little Davey must participate. Davey has seen this happen every year that he can remember, and with that !

d say “so what? It’s tradition.̶

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 920
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Lottery

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