How Does Shirley Jackson Use Symbols In The Lottery

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.

A literary device element that was used in “The Lottery” was setting. Setting from the story relates to the theme of false hopes. As it developed throughout the article, it shows that it took place during the summer time in June in a small village of 300 people. The description of the day states that it “ Was clear and sunny, fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green”(Jackson 1). The quote relates to the theme of false hopes because when you read this you think it is going to be a nice day and good things are going to happen. In reality this is a day that most do not look forward to, and a day that carries the tradition of death.

In “The Lottery “ by Shirley Jackson, the purpose of the lottery is to continue a tradition created long ago, when the village just started out. Mr. Hutchinson chose a piece of paper from an old black box for his family and ended up getting the black dot. He and his family had to each draw a paper again from the black box. Mrs. Hutchinson got the black dot, and she was stoned to death.

            Furthermore, this lottery does not arouse the optimistic personalities that lotteries are known for, but rather conveys the apprehensive side of everyone in town and how serious it is to them.  When Mr. Summers cites, "Well now...guess we better get started, get this over with, so we can get back to work," it sounds like this drawing is not going to be as long and as serious, according to his light tone (p.424).  But in response to Mr. Summers, Old Man Warner says, "Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody" (p.425).  This indicates that this drawing will be no

Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is about a bizarre ritual performed in a town in which the townspeople proceed to follow every year. In a black, worn box they place all the names of the community. Once all the names are placed inside, Mr. Summers draws a name. After the name is chosen, this member will be stoned to death by the others in the community. Tessie Hutchinson in the story tries to reject the repetitive tradition of the lottery.

“The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson was written in 1948. Jackson declared her purpose for writing the story was “to shock the story’s readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives” (pg. 250). The main characters in this story are Mr. Summers who draws the names out of the black box; Mr. Graves the post master that assist Mr. Summers; Bill Hutchinson, Tessie Hutchinson who were chosen in the lottery; and the townspeople. Jackson uses the bright and friendly atmosphere set the tone of the story. The story starts off on a clear and sunny morning on June 27th. It was a beautiful day with the flowers blooming and the grass green in a small little town of 300 people. In this town the townspeople felt strongly about upholding traditions. Tradition is important to small towns, a way to link families and generations. Following traditions blindly is what can turn into something terrible. The lottery was held each year where one person was

The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson spins a shocking tale of the horrors that tradition brings. The allegory centers on an annual town lottery, one where the “winner” is stoned to death. The townspeople are to draw a slip of paper from the black box, and the marked paper signifies who was chosen. This lottery has been going on for generations, and the only spoils of the old lottery is the black box. This shabby, splintered, and stained black box has been passed through generations for the lottery. It is the sole reminder of the tradition that people once had, and a solid reason of why the people of the town continue

The box is so overrated because it has been passed down from generations to perform the tradition. The black box is falling apart and they are reluctant to fix it. The box is not even kept in a safe place, it is kept in different places which makes you wander if somebody wanted to put a stop on the lottery that would at least try to destroy the box but they stay loyal to it. Old man Warner is the oldest man in the village and has survived through all seventy-seven lotteries. He is the main character that represents the lottery as a symbol. Mr. Warner does not think that holding the lottery every year is bad because that is all he knows. Younger people have came up to him and brought up that in other villages they are thinking about giving up the lottery but he thinks that they “are a pack of crazy fools” (221). As well as thinking if it wasn’t for the lottery that they would all go back to unsophisticated times, living in caves and eating chickweed and acorns. He has such an ignorant mind because he thinks that human sacrifice is the answer for having good crops,” Lottery in June, corn be heavy

In Shirley Jackson’s  “The Lottery”, There is an annual lottery game in this village on June 27th of every year, this lottery is a ritual that has been in the village for long since, everyone in the village would gather at the time square to participate in it. Mr.Sumner, the lottery official will then brings out the black box and declared the lottery open and states all the rules, “Now, I’ll read the names--heads of families first--and the men com out and take a paper out of the box. Keep the paper folded in your hand without looking at it until everyone has had a turn. Everything clear?” (BBR 93). One of this papers will have a black spot that is put on by the coal company owner, whoever gets the spotted paper with the black dot wins the lottery and will be stoned to death.

In stories there will be objects that will constantly be mentioned within the story. This is what is known as Symbolism. Symbolism is the use of object, name, or person to represent an idea. If a name is being use, a name such as autumn can represent the adulthood of a human. Creatures such as an Eagle, represents ‘Freedom’ and ‘America’. Even inanimate objects can represent ideas; the light bulb represents ideas that just sparked into a character’s head.

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.

Shirley Jackson tells use about a small town in June that is having their yearly lottery drawing. Shirley Jackson uses a lot of symbolism and characterization to tell about their tradition. Jackson also uses symbolism to tell the reader how long the tradition has went on by describing how old things are and some of the people. In her book,“The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson emphasizes the danger of accepting tradition through her portrayal of setting, characterization, and symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving things symbolic meaning.

One second…whether it is homicide… two seconds… or suicide… three seconds…on earth a person dies every second. Approximately that is eighty-six thousand and four hundred human beings dying per day. In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses symbolism of the character Mr. Graves, the black mark, the stones, and the black box to develop the theme of death. For example, Mr. Graves represents death in the story.

can be interpreted in a different way. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short

Reading the title “The lottery” anyone would thin, “winner, fun, excitement etc…” Reading the title gives us the understanding the story would be fun and with a happy ending. In Fact it is rather misleading to us readers. Today in our modern society we play lotto in order to win some “cash” for our better future, where else back in that time it is not for money. You’d probably be thinking yes of course we all need money to buy a house, or take a relaxing vacation. But not in this story, “The lottery” focuses on spilling some blood, for better crop. Jackson has chosen such weird title for this story, to give us that huge shock as to what was the tradition back in those times. “Its that time of the year….” It only happens once a year which takes from 2-24 hours for the ceremony to finish. Depending on the village size. Jackson has shown that the winner of the lottery has to suffer. “Selecting the smoothest and roundest stones” therefore taking a lot longer for