How Does Shirley Jackson Use Symbols In The Lottery

The stones that the boys gather in the beginning are a good source of symbolism. “...the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones…” (Jackson 1). Their choice of these certain rocks symbolizes how cruel this tradition is. The purpose of these smooth rocks is that they will cause a long painful death which was taught by their elders example. A black box that is used to pull the slips of paper out of, to determine the winner, is a strong source of symbolism. “Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box” (Jackson 1). She also writes “The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained” (Jackson 2). Black is the color of the box, but black also represents death that the tradition holds. She states that the box grows shabbier every year. This could be compared the tradition itself. Every year this tradition gets shabbier, and other villages have gotten rid of this horrific tradition. Eventually the box will fall apart and never be rebuilt in hopes that the tradition will too.

In the short story, “The Lottery”, Jackson’s use of symbols reveals a twisting plot that isn’t recognizable until nearly at the end of the story. Her use of third person point of view is

Shirley Jackson also utilizes literary devices to good effect in “The Lottery,” especially that of symbolism. By keeping the setting devoid of any identifying details, Jackson frees the reader to imagine that it could be any place. The only constraints that the author places on her readers’ creativity are that the town is decidedly rural, perhaps narrowing the critique to the cultural scene most frequently associated with small town America. Other symbols include the box from which the lottery slips are drawn (an old and black object which heralds death), stoning as a method of execution (a particularly old and excruciating way to kill someone), and ritual itself (a series of often ill contemplated actions for which one needs no particular reason to follow). All of these, with their marked reference to age, clearly refer to tradition.

Symbolically the battered black box represents the death that it brings to the community as well as a worn out tradition. The box is mentioned repeatedly throughout the story, which is a sign of its importance, although we are kept in the dark about its ultimate function until the very end. It is described as "…no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places [is] faded or stained." (Jackson 75). This seems to also describe the lottery itself- old, faded, and stained with the blood of all those who have died in years past. Ironically, the black box used in the story was said not to be the original box and the papers that they used were substitutes for the old wood chips. This is a sign that the tradition is so old and meaningless that it can be constantly added to or taken away from. "Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box…[and] every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything being done" (Jackson 75). Perhaps Mr. Summers's idea symbolizes a need for a new tradition.

The lottery is usually associated with beating the odds and winning something extravagant. In Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery”, the reader is led to believe the story is about something cheerful and happy given the setting of a warm summer day and children out of school for the summer. Jackson turns winning the lottery into a bad thing. Of 300 villagers Tessie Hutchinson shows up late, claiming she forgot about the annual lottery drawing, but seems very excited to have made it on time. When Tessie was in no danger she is gossiping with neighbors and encourages her husband to draw for the winner. Jackson curiously builds up the character of Tessie so that it seems she is blinded by tradition until she becomes a victim of it

“The Lottery” has many symbols that help create the sinister and somber tone of the story. The black box from which the papers are drawn as well as the black dot on the paper are both symbolic of death. Black is a universally accepted

In her story “The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson manages to catch the readers’ attention and ultimately shock them with an unexpected ending; all of which help her emphasize her critique toward the dark side of human nature and the evil that resides, sometimes, in those who we less expect it from. Jackson uses symbolism throughout the story that helps her set the mood and also makes the readers wonder and analyze the senseless violence and cruelty in their own lives.

The ending of “The Lottery” comes as a shock to the reader. The Ending of the lottery Tessie Hutchinson draw the winning ticket, and is selected to to be stoned to death.The fact that a town would hold this kind of game is atroscious. Part of the reason that the ending was so much of a shock was because the Author’s use of incidental symbolism left one uneasy. Such as the black box and how it was portrayed like a forgotten tuneless chant, the ritual salute. “The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.” (The Lottery 1)While most critics see the box as the primary symbol the stool is referenced at least 4 times in the fourth paragraph. “three- legged stool, and the stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box down on it. The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool.”(The Lottery 1) The stool represents the trinity and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus was sacrificed on the cross Tessie Hutchinson stood on the three legged stool and was stoned to death. But at the beggining jackson sets us on track with some symbolism to indeed show us what is to come. Towards the middle of the story uses some chracter symbolism when it comes to the families. Mr. Dunbar is unable to draw the lottery today, so Mrs. Dunbar agrees to draw for him. However Mr. Summers say. “Don’t you have a grown boy that can draw for you.” Helen Nebeker put the explanation of this conversation extremely well. “In this seemingly innocent exchange the reader is jarred into a suspicion that the mentioned “grown boy” has been a previous victim and that his father cannot face the strain of being present, raising the question whether the breaking of his leg has been accidental or deliberate. At any rate, this loss of a son

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson has many subliminal symbolic meanings to its text. The author uses the title, the date of the lottery, the location, the box, the three-legged stool, and even character’s names to make the reader dig into the story to understand the full meaning. The title “The Lottery” is significant because the one who is chosen for “the lottery” doesn’t win a prize, but has to sacrifice their life for their community’s tradition. Which immediately begins the subliminal symbolic meanings because the title is the complete opposite of what happens within the story this is subliminally expressing a double theme. Which the title meaning one thing and what the plot of the story is completely opposite and is showing us the doubleness of the human spirit. The date, June twenty-seventh, is playing a role in the

The black box is not only Alliteration, but it is also a symbol in “The Lottery”. Martine Ma declares, “The black box holds the key between life or death for every single one of the townspeople”. Inside the black box is a “slip of paper” (Jackson1870) with “a black spot” (Jackson1870) that would declare the death of a villager and the sacrifice for the harvest. The black box also represents ‘evil’ in “The Lottery”. Seth Cassel stated, “The villagers have become entranced in the gruesome tradition of stoning people.” Proving that the black box has manipulated the townspeople into killing their fellow villagers because of the lottery the black box

some of the events throughout the story. Symbolism in "The lottery" is mainly represented by the

She mentions “The lottery was conducted-- as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program…,” (1) which makes it appear that the lottery will be a fun event if it is held in the same place as square dances. This comparison vastly contrasts with the final images given of the town square- a brutal stoning of an innocent civilian. By bombarding the reader with peaceful, or even fun images of the town, Jackson is able to contrast, and foreshadow what is to

Shirley Jackson wrote the story “The Lottery” back in 1948 to show us how ridiculous it could be to blindly follow certain traditions. In this story the author uses symbolisms to warn and prepare the reader about the gruesome ending of the lottery. There are a lot of symbols in the story and the main are the items, the lottery and the character names.

The word Lottery conjures up feeling of enthusiasm, riches, joys, and comfort. Although this may be true in our everyday lives, the same cannot be said for the short story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The meaning of the word Lottery as it is used in the story is the exact opposite of what it means to us. In the story, the townspeople gather around once a year for the lottery and a black box is placed in the center of all of the townspeople.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a mysterious story riddled with hidden meanings. If the reader carefully examines the story he or she can discover the true purpose of the lottery, before it is revealed. The true form of this lottery is not a typical raffle it is not to win money; it is to win a chance to live. A game of chance, to see whom the black box kill this year? Each year on January 27th everyone gathers, young and old, to draw from the fateful box, the unfortunate winner of the drawling is then stoned to death. The most prevalent symbols in the short story are the smooth stones used to carry out the murder, and secondly, the black box which carries two meanings, it signifies death, but it also embodies tradition.