Symbolism Depicted In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

585 Words3 Pages
In the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson there is an annual death lottery. My theory as to why the lottery was started is that the lottery ensured a good harvest. My theory as to why the lottery continues is that the lottery has become empty tradition and people are afraid to change it. The story “The Lottery” is written to hint at the fact that the lottery was started because it ensured a good harvest. The reader is led to believe this through a series of quotes. First, Old Man Warner gives a hint to the lottery's original purpose by saying “‘“Lottery in June corn be heavy soon”’” this makes the reader think that the lottery had something to do with getting a lot of corn this quote is on page 22 lines 260 and 261. Second, Old