Shirley Jackson's the Lottery Essay

Told by a third person narrative, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is about a village with a bizarre ritual. A lottery is known for its extravagant prizes and awards given to the holders of certain drawn cards, however in Jackson’s short story, the lottery culminates in a violent murder each year. Before the reader knowing what kind of lottery the people of the village are conducting, people’s lives seem normal, women are gossiping the men are telling jokes and children are gathering stones. Mr.

Fear causes the people in our culture to control their own behavior intuitively. We are driven by fear because of the expectations we have of the future. If we don’t conform to society, we know what the future may hold for us. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” A dystopian society is fearful of what is expected of them and what will happen if they don’t converse to their village’s procedures. This portrays today’s culture as well. When we are expected to do something, we fear the punishments if

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” A lottery sounds like a drawing of a prize that is given away at the end of the drawing to the winner. At least that is how it works today. In today's society a lottery is used as a mean of selling numbered tickets and giving the cash or prize to the winners of the tickets. In Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery” the term lottery is somewhat similar but used in a very different manner. Names of villagers are called upon as they select a drawing that determines

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is one of the greatest well-known short stories in American literature. First published in 1948, the controversial narrative explores the consequences that thoughtless devotion to tradition can have on a small rural town. In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson reveals that blindly following tradition could be devastating to every person it involves. Traditions are beliefs, objects, or customs that generations pass down through a given society. In various cultures, traditions

Shirley Jackson is a renowned author known for her horror stories, mainly The Haunting of Hill, which has influenced various works of Stephen King. In the short story, “The Lottery,” Jackson demonstrates how the role of tradition and the patriarchal system entrap people in a collective idea and prohibit individuals from questioning or opposing the ideology in place. The intertwining of all the various elements of this story makes it easy to observe the entanglement of the town with the traditions

In Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery”, the title itself is ironic. Contrary to what the reader might think from early on in the story, or even form prior knowledge, the “lottery” is not something one would want to win in this case. This story is told in a third person, very limited, omniscient point of view. While the narrator introduces a number of characters and their histories, the narrator never discloses any of the characters thoughts at any time during the story. When the speaker

The Lottery is a short story by Shirley Jackson. it is one of her famous works and also it is no exaggeration that her mental unease brings her successful works. Almost all of Jackson’s work is originated in horror, hauntings, and psychological uneasiness. This story shows the danger of blindly following tradition, and also represents a bitter satire on uncivilized society. To briefly summarize the story, the people of a small town gather for a yearly ritual. when everyone is gathered, each head

Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery”, raises various questions concerning society’s actions as a group. Shirley’s surprise conclusion shocked readers of The New Yorker magazine when the story was first published. However, Shirley’s writing style is carefully planned and written as the finish is a shock to the reader. Jackson’s usage of foreshadowing and arrangement of writing aids in the building of the story’s climax, blindsiding the reader with its ending. One major element prominently

powerful force" (qtd. in AZQuotes). In Shirley Jackson's chilling story "The Lottery", a town celebrates a special custom of stoning people to death every year. Jackson perfectly depicts a possible event that may occur from blindly following tradition without evaluating the purpose or usefulness of it in the first place. Jackson’s use of plot, theme, and symbolism reveal the evil reality of blind faith, tradition, and their consequences. Initially, Jackson’s twisted plot reveals the infinite, vicious

The actions of young boys, the lottery items and rituals, and the crowds increasing nervousness demonstrates Shirley Jackson's skillful use of foreshadowing in the short story "The Lottery" to show the danger of blindly following tradition. The villagers' boys learn as they grow up that the practice of stoning a person every year is part of life. The young boys select the "smoothest and roundest stones" (Jackson). This implies that to them, the lottery is like a sport. One would think that the boys