Individuality In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

Ibn Khaldun once wrote, “Blindly following ancient customs and traditions does not mean that the dead are alive, but that the living are dead.” When humans mindlessly adhere to rituals that span centuries, they begin to forget the true meaning behind the performed practice, leading to the death of individuality. In “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, the townspeople become so accustomed to participating in the lottery that they no longer question its existence or wish to alter its negative consequences. The development of the characters, the main points in the plot, and the usage of symbolism throughout the story portray the theme of dangerously following tradition without knowing its origins.

The characters’ responses during the lottery illustrate the significance of the roles of conformity, hypocrisy, and perpetuity in the theme.

Her forgetfulness emphasizes that the lottery does not hold any regard for her, proving that, like the other townspeople, she also complies with this tradition. However, her demeanor shifts when reality sets in, and her name gets selected as she yells: “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (Jackson 8). Until Tessie Hutchinson experiences the ritual’s repercussions, she does not question the righteousness of the practice. Her fear of dying as a “sacrifice” makes her hypocrisy become known, along with the peril of ignorantly heeding a long-established custom. Another character, Old Man Warner, represents the history of the lottery and the reluctance for change. For instance, when he hears talk of a nearby town eliminating the observance of the lottery, he asserts phrases such as “pack of young fools” and “nothing but trouble in that” (Jackson 5). Because he has been a part of the lottery for a long time, Old Man Warner wants to keep this tradition permanent. His