Essay On The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

184 Words1 Pages
Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery," digs into the themes of tradition and its consequences. Set in a small town, the story focuses around an annual lottery that, shockingly, results in the killing of one of the townspeople. The townspeople follow this tradition without questioning its purpose, because it has always been done. Old Man Warner, the oldest resident, strongly defends the lottery, viewing any change as foolish. He represents the older generation's resistance to change in the town. In contrast, Tessie Hutchinson, who becomes the victim, initially makes the lottery out to be unfair. Only when she is chosen does she protest its fairness, revealing how people often ignore injustice until it affects themselves. Jackson