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Unveiling The Dangers Of Blind Tradition In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

847 Words4 Pages

Unveiling the Dangers of Blind Tradition: An Analysis of Shirley Jackson's Short Story "The Lottery” by Grace Lutsyk Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" paints a terrifying picture of a neighborhood trapped in a dark tradition. Mrs. Hutchingson stands out among the characters as a significant woman whose unflinching allegiance to lottery customs prompts serious concerns about the dangers of blind loyalty. In this study of Mrs. Hutchingson's personality, we examine her adherence to tradition, resistance to change, maternal instinct, and ultimate awakening. We learn about the consequences of mindlessly adhering to damaging traditions, as well as the opportunity for personal growth and societal change via her journey. Mrs. Hutchingson's engaged …show more content…

Hutchingson contributes to the continued existence of an oppressive system that restricts individual autonomy and maintains a climate of dread in the neighborhood by actively upholding the lottery tradition. Her steadfast dedication is a perfect example of the influence that traditions have over people, suppressing critical thought and encouraging obedience. Mrs. Hutchingson's active engagement serves as a reminder that oppressive events are ongoing, breathing forces that shape and influence people's lives, rather than being historical artifacts. Her constant loyalty to tradition not only represents her personal perspective but also the community as a whole. The statement by Jackson that "No one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box" sums up the widespread aversion to upsetting long-standing …show more content…

Hutchingson is divided between her dedication to the lottery and her love for her family. Her mixed feelings represent the emotional battle that many people experience when personal relationships and customs clash. Mrs. Hutchingson shows her readiness to sacrifice her family members in a painful act of devotion, The story describes her dilemma: "Tessie... held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her" (Jackson). In this scene, Mrs. Hutchingson makes a last-ditch effort to save Tessie, her daughter, from the approaching sacrifice. It draws attention to the tension that exists between her maternal instincts and the expectations of the tradition, demonstrating how oppressive customs may have an impact on and manipulate even the closest of

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Annotated Bibliography: The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

2309 Words | 10 Pages

Within this source it has a list of sub headings that cover symbolic meaning of the lottery, the lottery box, stoning and considering the authors background. The sub heading about the author Shirley Jackson provides me with some very crucial information around the long standing traditions of what the whole story really meant and the back ground of the author when she wrote this short story. Ironically Shirley Jackson was a women during the 1948 period in America. Which began to part the puzzle for me on the ideologies used in the story that contrasted America at that present time. For e.g. whether it was segregation, the lack of free voting rights or any of the many other traditions which still exist primarily because they have always existed.

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Plessy Vs. Ferguson: Racial Injustice In The 14th Amendment

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THE 14TH AMENDMENT In this paper, I will be talking about the equal protection of laws clause in 14th amendment interpreted in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. This paper will focus on the concern over racial injustice in the judgment of Plessy v. Ferguson. Racial injustice is being looked in several aspects i.e. the argument of absolute equality, the objection to inferiority argument, the personal liberty argument and the good faith argument. In the end, I will conclude that the decision of Plessy v. Ferguson is a pernicious decision.

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Tradition Exposed In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

618 Words | 3 Pages

Many current customs can be traced back hundreds of years. Sometimes these traditions change over time, often so much so that the details or even the original purpose can be forgotten. In her short story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson points out how even modern will participate in rituals that can range from foolish to barbaric in the name of antiquated cultural customs whose details and very purpose has long been forgotten. Jackson sets the scene with a description of a sunny…summer day” in a civilized community, with a “post office,” “bank,” and a “school” (paragraph 1). Little children play with stones” and run around in the schoolyard (2).

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Use Of Irony In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

410 Words | 2 Pages

The author’s usage of situational irony suggests that traditions are woven into innocent children’s minds as well and how this creates a society that is unable to realize the faults in their rituals. As the story goes on, the town begins setting up for the lottery and Mr. Summers, the leader of the lottery, wants a new box, “but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box” (365), so the town continued to use the debilitated box. At this point, the audience realizes the austerity the town has towards their customs and how the villagers are unyielding towards even the slightest change in tradition. This austerity causes Tessie Hutchinson's disposition to be rebellious in nature. She becomes the only one to arrive late to the lottery which causes Mr. Summers to become worried that “[they] would have to get on without [her]”(367).

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The Danger Of Tradition In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

605 Words | 3 Pages

This symbolism foreshadows to the danger and death involved in the lottery. The box is also described as falling apart. The town’s people do not want to replace it because of stories they were told about the box being made of pieces of the box preceding it, all the way to the first people who started the tradition (Jackson 313). This reluctance to let go of something that is falling apart and broken represents their reluctance to get rid of the lottery although it is broken and illogical. This is how Jackson represents the danger of tradition; no matter how crazy, harmful, or backwards that tradition, if it is something a society is used to, it will continue to follow the

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Destruction by Conformity: An Analysis of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'

718 Words | 3 Pages

The truth of the matter though is that traditions can be disastrous because they are perceived as respectable merely because they have been around for so long. In “The Lottery,” Jackson uses tone, symbolism, and irony to show the destruction that can be caused by conforming to a tradition or a custom. Just like the villagers’ annual lottery, discrimination has been around for a long time as well, but just because it has been around for so long, does not mean it should be implemented. People must learn to separate themselves from such practices so they can teach future generation’s better ethical

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Situational Irony In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

794 Words | 4 Pages

In her short story "The Lottery" (1948), Shirley Jackson effectively uses the symbolism associated with the lottery’s rituals and situational irony to establish how

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Shirley Jackson The Lottery Rhetorical Analysis

1186 Words | 5 Pages

People were heavily influenced to conform through public humiliation of those who sympathized with Jewish people, wanting to feel as though they have somewhere to belong, and a fear that they will be ostracized from society. This led to many turning either a blind eye to the horrors of the Holocaust or led some to actively participate in it. Similar to conformity, scapegoating is another danger within society that Shirley Jackson brings to light. In “The Lottery,” Jackson symbolizes scapegoating through the selection of a single townsperson as the sacrificial victim to bear the consequences of the violent ritual. One specific example takes place when Tessie Hutcherson is chosen as the “winner” of the lottery.

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Individuality In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

971 Words | 4 Pages

Her forgetfulness emphasizes that the lottery does not hold any regard for her, proving that, like the other townspeople, she also complies with this tradition. However, her demeanor shifts when reality sets in, and her name gets selected as she yells: “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (Jackson 8). Until Tessie Hutchinson experiences the ritual’s repercussions, she does not question the righteousness of the practice. Her fear of dying as a “sacrifice” makes her hypocrisy become known, along with the peril of ignorantly heeding a long-established custom. Another character, Old Man Warner, represents the history of the lottery and the reluctance for change.

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Traditions In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

481 Words | 2 Pages

Traditions are beliefs passed down from generation to the next. Customs are not made to be followed and instead, are guidance to help lead your path. In Jackson’s “The Lottery'', the villagers of a town follow the tradition of stoning a randomly chosen resident every June. Why did these 300 people decide to continue a tradition seen as immoral by the public eye? Near the middle of “The Lottery”, Old Man Warner tells us about the benefits of the lottery.

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The Lottery Tradition Essay

501 Words | 3 Pages

A tradition that stands for bringing communities together can quickly become a tradition that tears communities apart. Jackson continues to tell the story through a series of symbols present throughout. For instance, the black decaying box, from which the lottery is raffled in, closely represents the decaying tradition of the lottery, with the chipping black paint, that once represented the power of authority, is now falling apart, “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.” (Jackson, 2). With essentials characters and a narrative that caters to foreshadowing the sinister events that are yet to follow.

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Shirley Jackson The Lottery Rhetorical Analysis

871 Words | 4 Pages

While real life traditions are rarely so extreme, Jackson’s exaggerated fictional example emphasizes her point to great effect. By the end of the story, the audience is convinced that the town is wrong to uphold the lottery tradition, but Jackson is not really writing about a lottery; she is writing about how damaging it can

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The Negative Consequences Of Tradition In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

467 Words | 2 Pages

In her story "The Lottery", Shirley Jackson implies the negative consequences of blindly following tradition through the acceptance, by the villagers, of the tradition of the lottery. Jackson suggests that the people of the village are afraid to give up the little tradition they have, even if it is not good. Every year after the lottery, the conductor of the lottery, Mr. Summers suggests that they should build a new box but, “No one [likes] to upset even as much tradition as [is] represented by the box.” (Jackson, 1). The black box symbolizes ritual and tradition.

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Blindly Accepting Traditions In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

586 Words | 3 Pages

At a time when basic religious beliefs and traditions were being questioned by academia, author Shirley Jackson penned a poignant attack against those who blindly accepted values and traditions in her short story, “The Lottery.” The Lottery is presented as an event that has always occurred throughout the region's history without any opposition. Nonchalantly, the entire village commits homicide at the finale. Finally, aspects of the traditional lottery evolved without notice or were forgotten by the villagers. Within “The Lottery,” author Shirley Jackson embeds the theme of blindly accepting traditions as illustrated by the actions of the villagers.

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The Importance Of Tradition In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

505 Words | 3 Pages

The villagers on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson are afraid to let go of their tradition, the lottery. They are concern of unknown consequences that will happen if they change their old customs. So, for every year, the villagers gather at the square to do the lottery at 10 AM . The villagers are afraid to quit their outdated tradition because they think that changing their old customs will only bring trouble.

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