Grant Ashby MaryAnn Larson ENG 102 23 April 2023 Blindly following Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is a gripping and thought-inspired narrative that explores the darker side of human nature. The story is set in a small village where the annual lottery takes place, a tradition that the villagers have followed for generations. Jackson uses symbolism, tradition, and theme to send forth the story's message and leave an enduring impact on the reader which causes them to imagine the effects going along with what others do and say can have on them. In the short story, “The Lottery”, the author demonstrates how there is ultimate power in ritual as well as traditions and how following certain practices only because it is traditions can …show more content…
The black box that is used to draw the slips of paper represents the tradition of the lottery itself. The box is old and worn down, and the villagers are reluctant to replace it with a new one, despite its broken-down state. The box is also seen as a symbol of death, as the slips of paper inside represent the fate of those who draw them. The black dot on the winning slip of paper is a symbol of the ultimate sacrifice that the winner must make for the sake of the village's tradition. The stones used to stone the winner to death are another symbol of the villagers' complicity in the act of murder. The Lottery in today's time is something that people look forward to everyday; an enjoyable event that can cause someone to gain enormous amounts of wealth. Jackson uses this information to draw readers in and expounds the idea that not all concepts with initial great outcomes are worth it. The lottery is a symbol of winning something big and great but instead it was something horrific and abominable such as …show more content…
Jackson uses the villagers' blind adherence to the lottery as a commentary on human nature and our tendency to accept the status quo without question. The villagers never question the morality of the lottery or why they participate in it. They blindly follow the tradition because it is what they have always done, and they fear the consequences of not participating. The idea of following others' examples or as Jacksons calls traditions can be seen countless times in today's society. Numerous people continuously will follow others due to their rank in social status, which can lead to harm and danger like Jackson portrays in this short story. Jackson uses the character of Old Man Warner to illustrate this point. He is the oldest villager and the staunchest supporter of the lottery. He believes that the lottery is necessary to maintain the village's way of life, and he is fearful of the consequences if they were to stop the tradition. He says, "Lottery in June, corn will be heavy soon," suggesting that the lottery is a necessary sacrifice for a good harvest. Old Man Warner's beliefs represent the dangers of blindly following tradition, as he is unwilling to question the morality of the lottery or consider its origins. Blindly following traditions can lead to unfortunate consequences and events that are unpreventable once the action is