Literary Themes InThe Lottery, By Shirley Jackson

Would you believe that there was once a village where everyone would partake in a terrible event, but think it was innocent because of how they blindly followed a tradition? The short story, “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson communicates this theme by showing how the villagers participate in a lottery every year. In life, there are people who follow tradition because the have to, or they are used to following without question. The author, Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1916 in San Francisco, California. In 1937, Shirley Jackson attended Syracuse University where she began to write short stories. She was famous for the short story, “The Lottery,” and her best seller novel, “The Haunting of Hill House”. Shirley Jackson was

Shirley Jackson uses the setting to create her mood and atmosphere throughout the story. Shirley begins her story by using imagery to give life to her setting “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. ” (par. 1) Shirley conveys her of a small town feel by showing the innocence of the story when mentioning, “... the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program …” (par. 4) being held in the same square as the lottery.

Jackson starts the story out depicting the day as “clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (Jackson 1). The village men were “speaking of planting and rain,

You have brought out a great point on the foreshadow analyzing for the story “The lottery”. I didn’t notice that stone had play a huge role in this story because while I was reading the story, I just though the children are just having fun collecting the stone. I never realize that the author giving the reader hint that the stone, later on is for beating up a person. Answering to your question, yes Old Man Warner is a stubborn person who not willing to change this tradition. I think this traditional doesn’t have end until Old Warmer pass away, I think if there a good amount of people who disagree about this traditional and go against it. This traditional eventually would end.

“The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson exemplifies a short story written in 1948. The story tells a tale of a small village in which they stone one of their own. Throughout the village, there are civilians who are opposed to the lottery and others who are for it. Shirley Jackson develops a thematic theme of Isolation and Deprivation through the setting and it’s characters.

While reading the story you don 't really get the impression that the lottery might actually be a bad thing until some of the people start talking about how other villages aren’t doing the lottery anymore. "’They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they 're talking of giving up the lottery.’”,”’Some places have already quit lotteries." Mrs. Adams said.” After finishing the story, you obviously realize why they would end the tradition. But it was Old Man Warner’s response to the news that the tradition of the lottery was no longer being done in other villages, that was disturbing and further proves the dangers of following traditions blindly. “‘There 's always been a lottery,’ he added petulantly” He says this as if it’s good enough reason to continue doing it. As he’s going up to get his slip of paper, he reveals he’s been in the lottery seventy seven times. Meaning he’s participated in killing seventy seven innocent people. Again all this for the sake of following a tradition.

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, is a short story that was written in the 1948 issue of The New Yorker. The short-story is based on a fictional small town that holds a yearly lottery that determines the future of one of its citizens. After this dark short-story was released, it received multiple negative reviews and caused several readers to cancel their subscriptions with The New Yorker. Although the future of one of the citizens is not vividly described, the reader gets a clear understanding of it. Throughout the short-story, the authors choice of not releasing the meaning of the lottery, the tradition’s history, and overall betrayal, leave the story to be open to interpretation by the readers.

The short story, The Lottery, was written by Shirley Jackson and was published by The New Yorker in June 26, 1948. Within the story contains numerous amount of literary elements, such as irony, symbolism, and tone, all are used to convey Jackson’s ultimate message.

When one typically thinks about a lottery, images of people yelling for joy and stacks of cash, typically come to mind. But that is not the case with Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery”. Whereas lotteries typically have a positive connotation, Jackson’s lottery is quite the opposite Jackson’s sinister tale, published in the late 1940s, was written in order to highlight the pointless violence and general inhumanity that was present in the world. Jackson’s writing was meant to shock, and in doing so, make the story’s message memorable to readers. In her story, Jackson uses seemingly ordinary details about the townspeople and the lottery itself, to emphasize her theme that although humanity claims to be civilized, it is, in reality, inherently barbaric.

Shirley Jackson received very little literary criticism throughout her life. The reason why is very controversial. The most accurate reason is most likely because Shirley Jackson’s works were so different, filling in many different genres and types of stories. “Despite her popularity--several of her novels were best-sellers--her work received relatively little critical attention. Some critics claim the lack of critical attention paid to Jackson is due to her versatility--in her lifetime she published novels, short stories, plays, children's books, television scripts and humorous sketches of domestic life.” ("Shirley Jackson."(Online)). Other critics blame it on the fact that Shirley was a woman and the men that lived during her time wouldn’t

In a span of two hours, in a village no more than about three hundred people, one simple black dot can separate a family. Scratch off tickets in the United States have been around since the 1970s, which everyone wishes to win. Although, in the story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, no one desires to win the lottery. Jackson reveals an idea that the society continues to allow a ritual to dictate their lives. The idea that a tradition dictates a villages life can be recognized through Joe Summers’, Old Man Warner’s, and Tessie Hutchinson’s dialogue throughout the story.

While reading the story “The Lottery”, it was clear that there must be a deeper meaning. You, as a reader, will notice that the ideas and topics focused on throughout Jackson’s paper draws the reader into determining a deeper-rooted content that lays far beyond a small town and traditional ceremonies. While reading “The Lottery” it is important to keep an open mind and think outside the box, understanding the context in which this simple story grows to be a complex and profound metaphor The story resembles an American small town, Population 300, and a closely linked community. The town gathering seems honest at first but becomes darker as the story carries out. Closely linked families such as the Hutchinson’s and the Graves show traditional

Robert E. Howard once said “Barbarism is the natural state of mankind.” Illustrating that the evil cruel brutish state is but the traditional ancient way of humans. For centuries societies have fought to withhold powerful positions over opposing enemies, no matter the cost or actions needed. This is because a supreme civilization is a perfect civilization. Excellent examples that prove this is famous historic societies such as the Mongols, the Spartans, the Aztecs, the Celts. Each of these nations are known for being powerful as well as equally terrifying, this being due to their barbaric traditions. Proving Howard right, man has always had evil tendencies. Shirley Jackson, author of the short story “The Lottery,” agrees with the belief that

There aren't many people who like the lottery. the only villager who looks forward to it is Old Man Warner the oldest person in the village

Old man Warner is the Oldest man in the village. Old man Warner never changed throughout this whole story he has been the same he’s always been, Mr. Warner was always a traditional man who stuck to what was shown in his days. He never liked how the kids were starting to try to change things, he wanted everything to be the same. Old man Warner was never stoned in the lottery, throughout his whole life of playing the lottery he has never been chosen once out of 77 years he’s never been chosen. He’s watched and has stoned plenty of people for the past years of his life he’s played in the lottery.