Essay On The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson signifies a huge conflict of person vs society on how death is looked at in this society. In the story the society is holding a lottery and the winner is stoned to death and seen as a sacrifice for the whole society. In fact, the society feels no pain in administering this custom and has a very weak view on death. One way that Jackson amplifies this way the society views death is through the devastated reaction by Ms. Tessie Hutchinson that occurs when she is getting stoned by the whole village since she just won the annual lottery. The lines read, "‘It isn't fair, it isn't right,’ Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.(Jackson 16)” This line emphasizes how sometimes religion and rituals need to change with times. Also the lines, show that the morals of the society in the story are not

Delacroix called, and Mrs. Graves said, ‘All of us took the same chance.(Jackson 11)’” In these lines Tessie has just found out her family has been chosen and is yelling how it is not fair. This call for change clearly receives opposition. In fact, even her husband tells her to “shut up” when he knows what the outcome of the lottery will be for the chosen one. This opposition to change toward people like Tessie can also be seen in history. For instance, take the war on smoking tobacco. Tobacco was seen to be cool and okay for many years and was a common hobby of many people. As research was found to show the damage tobacco can do there were still people opposed banning it because it was a way of life to them and even in a new age where everyone know the harms of tobacco and not many people smoke, there are still older people who believe in it as well as some young people starting. Moreover, in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson the person vs society problem shows how different people think and how morals shape