Archetypes In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

Certain rules and traditions are placed to create order in society; although, extreme traditions can cause a corrupt society, instead of benefiting it will damage the society. “The Lottery” is a short story written by Shirley Jackson, one of the first examples of a dystopian society in literature. In the lottery, author Jackson, portrays a rural society from the past, that is unconscionable and corrupt, displaying immoral community caused by living in a bureaucratic dystopian society. This is displayed through characters actions and element’s. Analyzing the text for symbols and archetypes
As the story progresses characters begin to incriminate oneself and show true colors. Old Man Warner the oldest person in the village, at 77 years and the black box is even older than old man warner. He takes it upon himself to make sure that the village does not change its tradition, blinded throughout his whole life. When 1old Man Warner hears of another village’s talk about giving up the lotter he mentions “Pack of crazy, fools,” (page. 4). Implying that anyone who doesn't believe in the lottery is a fool and it should always stay.

A character that exemplified the bureaucratic society is bobby martin a child in the village who experienced the loss of innocence archetype, in a dystopian society, made to believe that these corrupt and barbaric actions/ rituals of sacrifice are the right and only way to live. Jackson emplifies this in the portrayal of bobby martin as she writes “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones” (page. 1). By preparing for such an event a Bobby is expecting and accepting the outcome of the lottery. This entails that throughout the lottery's existence many villagers have mindlessly involved themselves within the proceedings despite the lottery's violent