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Tradition In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

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Shirley Jackson was a famous and brilliant author during that time and she had published the short story The Lottery in the June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker.

"The Lottery" set in a village in late June, and there have 300 citizens are assembling in the town square. It was described England villagers reaps the benefit of them labor on a summer's day for an annual celebration which turns out to be a stoning, with the ‘lucky one’ who chosen by drawing lots to death. Tessie, the unlucky winner, was filled with so much enthusiasm as she rushed to partake in the gruesome event, yet once her fate was decided and as her friends and even family members began to turn on her, only then does she begin to protest the unfairness of the tradition. …show more content…

The beginning of the story was setting as an original and charming community; it seems like a traditional town, the people are kindly and friendly. However, the setting of this story is very ironic, the horrific purpose of the lottery is through the whole story until the end. Mrs. Jackson cleverly imparts, that a break from tradition would be foolish and it is what separates them from the barbaric and primitive times.

“The Lottery” was published after World War 2. The most people cannot face the truth and hope run away the war and death. They wished and hoped comfortable and normalcy life, they keep old-fashioned values. However Shirley Jackson was trying to challenge the traditional value, critical of traditional and rules. Through Jackson’s story, the reader reflects on his or her customs and habits, most of which are detrimental only when gone through without understanding their purposes. This story had shown the readers how silly some of human routines are. And also others’ habits and customs may no longer be as

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