Tradition In 'The Lottery And Bloodflowers'

In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “Bloodflowers” by W.D. Valgardson, the characters live in a dystopian world and follow annual tradition. The people in “The Lottery” gather together yearly and Mr. Summers conducts the event called the lottery. At this event, the citizens draw out slips of paper and the person who draws out the marked slip is sacrificed through stoning. Similarly, in “Bloodflowers” the citizens choose a “king” each year and the “king” is flourished with presents and is even offered a women. Although he is presented with all the gifts, the people in town murder the “king” at the end of the year. Both the stories depict the theme of the dangers of blindly following traditions as it can lead to the demise if innocent people. In both stories, the townspeople aimlessly follow their annual traditions because they are accustomed to the event. In “The Lottery”, Mr. Adams

Tess is stoned to death because she draws out the slip of paper with “a black spot on it” (Jackson 9). She did not commit any crimes nor did she do anything unacceptable, instead it is luck that determines her fate. Tess is murdered by the people because it is part of their tradition as they believe that her death will allow corn to yield. In comparison, Danny is a lovely young man who offers to teach on a small island. Even though the citizen treat him exceptionally well, Danny finds out that he is the “king” who will be killed at the end of the year. Danny is trapped on the island as the “chains [are still] on the boats” (Valgardson 219). He has nowhere to escape to and awaits his death on the island. Though he is an innocent man, since the townspeople chose him as the “king” he must be killed as it is the island’s annual ritual. Both the scenarios illustrate the deaths of innocent people as the townspeople continue to perform their annual