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Religious and Traditional Symbols in the Lottery

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Religious groups encourage and enforce conformity of their social norms and

beliefs upon their members. Religious traditions are usually passed on from parent to

child at an early age. In "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson reveals the tradition of the lottery

and how all of the villagers conform to the ritual of a human sacrifice. Growing up with

an exceptionally religious father I can relate to way of thinking of the villagers that

traditions are accepted without questioning.

In "The lottery," the children were stuffing their pockets with stones before all of the

parents had arrived, " Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and

the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and …show more content…

The idea of being forced to conform to traditional and social

norms of my father's religion at a very young age without understanding why is

portrayed in "The lottery".

Religious groups encourage and enforce conformity of their social norms and

beliefs upon their members. Religious traditions are usually passed on from parent to

child at an early age. In "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson reveals the tradition of the lottery

and how all of the villagers conform to the ritual of a human sacrifice. Growing up with

an exceptionally religious father I can relate to way of thinking of the villagers that

traditions are accepted without questioning.

In "The lottery," the children were stuffing their pockets with stones before all of the

parents had arrived, " Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and

the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones"

( 529). This illustrates that the children were taught what to do in the event of the lottery

and by being prepared it shows that they were keen to please their parents.

My father had always pressured me to follow his religious beliefs and traditions. At

first I was eager to attend his church sermons and Sunday school because it made me fell

like I was pleasing my father and he would reward me with praise and ice creams on the

drive home. But as I got older I started to realize

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