The Lottery
Thesis Statement: In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” customs and traditions normalize the unspeakable acts.
Unspeakable acts in a society are normalized by certain customs and traditions. The backbone of every culture and civilization is traditions that exist in a society. Tradition keeps society’s beliefs, social activities, and philosophies alive so that they are passed from one generation to another. There are some activities or things that a society does periodically, during certain periods of a year or everyday which forms habits, culture or becomes customs. Some of the traditions and customs are not morally acceptable and are practiced without good intentions despite the fact that they are routing. Some of the American culture and customs are set to be followed unquestionably.
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Such a tradition is followed without questioning the inhuman acts that come with it within the society or even to the entire population. It is far much better to follow and live societal traditions and cultures rather than changing people’s way of doing things or behavior (Le Jeune 594). No villager can actually tell whoever started the tradition and when it will come to end. In fact, the tradition is eternal to the villagers. In recent times, most of the acts that were termed as “unspeakable” in ancient times are now admissible and addressed in courts of law. Culture and customs address and correct unspeakable acts in the society with time. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, themes such as traditions are brought up to normalize unspeakable acts such as mob psychology. Therefore, this story will aid to a great