The Lottery
Set in a peaceful and idyllic village, the story explores the long-standing practice of conducting a lottery, which is believed to have originated as a form of sacrifice or religious ritual. However, as time has passed, the villagers have lost sight of the morality behind the tradition and continue to participate without questioning its purpose or consequences. The story begins in an innocent atmosphere, but as the narrative unfolds, the mood shifts, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and horror. This essay aims to examine how Jackson uses symbolism and characterization to illustrate the destructive nature of blindly following immoral traditions. In “The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson brings light to how unquestionably following
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One of the most powerful symbols employed in the story is the black box, slips of paper, and stones used in the lottery. These objects symbolize tradition, randomness, fairness, and violence, respectively. The black box, in particular, symbolizes tradition and is described as being made of "splintered wood" and "faded black paint" (Jackson, para. 5). This imagery gives the impression that the box is old and well-worn, emphasizing the idea that the lottery is a tradition that has been passed down through generations. A quote in the story that reinforces this symbolism is "The black box grew shabbier each year" (Jackson, para. 5), which highlights how the black box, as a symbol of tradition, is in a state of decline and neglect, suggesting that the tradition of the lottery is also in decline and should be critically …show more content…
Her initial excitement at being chosen as the lottery's winner is quickly replaced with shock and horror as the reality of the tradition sinks in. Her exclamation of "It isn't fair, it isn’t right" (Jackson, para. 79) underscores the dangers of blindly following tradition without questioning its morality. Her tragic fate, as she is stoned to death by her fellow villagers, serves as a stark reminder that adhering to tradition, even when morally reprehensible, can lead to devastating