Shirley Jackson’s use of symbolism is complex in her short story “The Lottery.” The symbolism of the black box in the story is used to represent adherence to tradition. The marked slip of paper symbolizes being the scapegoat of the community or a danger to others. The symbolization of the stones represents the violent and primitive nature that humans have that can be carried on through traditions. This story uses the symbolism of the black box, the marked slip of paper, and the stones in a way that makes the reader reflect on what “traditions” they blindly follow or how they are complacent in the harm those traditions cause. In this story, the village has a black box representing tradition used in their annual lottery. “The original paraphernalia …show more content…
“Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones... Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. “It isn’t fair,” she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head.” (Jackson). The stones in this story are used as the weapon to kill Mrs. Hutchinson, who was picked in the lottery. The stoning at the end of the story has biblical and historical context because those who were seen as outcasts of the village were to be stoned to death. The stoning also contributes to the meaning that people will be okay with violence if it is sanctioned. “Random execution of a member of the community in what appears to be a barbaric primitive ritual grounded in tradition. The death by stoning is ritually performed by fellow villagers who seem to be “common decent folks” and believe that what they are doing will somehow benefit the common good” (Shields 2). This further represents the villages blind obedience to primitive behaviors while seeing themselves as civilized. Jackson creates hypocrisy amongst the town when she writes that old man Warner says that towns that do not have a lottery are like cave people. This story shines a light on how violence has been a part of human nature that has manifested through religion, culture, and