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Examples Of Hypocrisy In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

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Christina Bajakian
Mr. Hammersmith
English 102-015
18 September 2014
Hypocrisy in The Lottery
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, is a suspenseful story that begins on a pleasant morning in June, but it quickly shifts into a morbid display of tradition. The characters display a sudden change in loyalty to each other once one of the town member’s names is drawn from the “black box”. Through this action, along with several other vivid examples from the text, Jackson cultivates an underlying theme of hypocrisy and the evil of human nature.
In the introduction, Jackson uses a tranquil and jovial tone. She gives the reader the impression that it is a mundane day in a small town by opening with “the morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, …show more content…

Delacroix displays an act of hypocrisy when Mr. Delacroix draws from the “black box” and she is only nervous on her own behalf. She fears for her own life and not for the life of her children or husband. Tessie Hutchinson demonstrates a parallel action when her husband Bill draws the “winning” lottery ticket. Tessie then protests, “You didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair!"(75). This brings up the question if Tessie is merely defending her husband or if she is primarily concerned that her own life is being threatened. In addition, Tessie also yells "There's Don and Eva, make them take their chance!" to which Mr. Summer replies, “Daughters draw with their husbands' families, Tessie, You know that as well as anyone else."(75). This further fortifies the argument that the characters in “The Lottery” are hypocrites because Tessie is willing to have her own children be stoned to death before herself. In addition, this quote also exposes the true evil of human nature and what people are willing to sacrifice in order to save …show more content…

Delacroix demonstrations an additional act of hypocrisy immediately before Tessie is stoned to death. “Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar. "Come on," she said. "Hurry up." (77). This can be perceived to be an act of hypocrisy because Mrs. Delacroix and Tessie were good friends in the beginning of the story, but once Tessie “won” the lottery Mrs. Delacroix revealed her true colors. It also can be noted that Mrs. Delacroix desired for Tessie to be stoned because “she selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands” (77). Mrs. Delacroix was inclined to kill one of her best friends and this shows her hypocrisy and the evil of human

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