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The Symbolism Of The Stones In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

277 Words2 Pages
Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery” uses specific details regarding the stones to convey a malicious tone. This is because by the end of this short story, the reader discovers the unsettling role the stones play in the lottery. Near the end of the story, Jackson reveals to the reader that “although the villagers had forgotten the rituals and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones” (34). To paraphrase, the people of the village only preserve one of the original traditions from the lottery, stoning the “winner” to death. Not only does this indicate how hostile the inhabitants of this village are, but it also unmasks a sort of numbness that the villagers display towards the idea of murdering someone. It is as
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