Historical Context
Publication History and Reception
Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” was published in the June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker. It garnered a highly negative response from readers, many of whom sent angry letters to Jackson and The New Yorker. People were confused and angered by the ending of the story. They felt that the concept of the lottery system was preposterous and that the ending was designed purely for shock value. The New Yorker claims to have received over 300 letters from readers requesting clarification about the meaning of the story. Some readers and critics even assumed that the story was based on real events. “The Lottery” owes its continued popularity at least in part to the sensation it created after first being published. It rapidly became one of the most anthologized short stories ever written. Though less controversial today, it continues to be favored by critics and educators for its compelling themes and intriguing premise.
World War II and the Cold War
“The Lottery” was published near the beginning of the Cold War era. In response to rising tensions with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the United States was entering a political period often referred to as the Second Red Scare. In 1947, President Truman signed an executive order that required federal employees to be screened for affiliations with suspected communist, fascist, or otherwise subversive political organizations. American nationalism was on the rise as Americans focused on the perceived threat of Soviet Communism. “The Lottery” can be read as a response to the persecution of allegedly subversive individuals in the face of this rising American nationalism. During the Cold War, Americans began clinging to the idea of a traditional American way of life and exhibiting blind patriotism. This is reminiscent of the blind acceptance of the lottery the villagers in the story exhibit.
“The Lottery” also draws thematic influence from World War II, which ended in 1945. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, it was evident that ordinary people would commit horrific acts of violence under the right conditions. This idea is echoed by the behavior of the townspeople in Jackson's story. Most of them are nervous during the lottery proceedings. Outside of Old Man Warner, no one seems to genuinely like the lottery. However, the townspeople are afraid of what will happen if they do not hold the lottery every year. Their ignorance and fear allow them to go through with stoning Tessie, just as ignorance and fear allowed the Nazis to commit mass genocide.
Further Context
"The Lottery" was published in 1948, soon after the conclusion of World War II. However, Jackson set the story in an unspecified time and place. Many critics believe Jackson based the village on North Bennington, Vermont, where she and her husband moved after their 1940 marriage. Following the story's release, some of Jackson's friends and acquaintances suggested that many characters were inspired by real people in North Bennington. Jackson, who rarely discussed the story's meaning or context, remarked: "I hoped by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village, to shock the story's readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general humanity in their own lives."
Some critics argue that "The Lottery" reflects the social, political, and cultural environment of its time. In 1948, the world was grappling with the brutal realities of World War II, the Holocaust, and the atomic bomb. The Holocaust, especially, demonstrated society's capacity for mass genocide under the guise of the common good. Jackson's husband, literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote about the impact of global events on Jackson's work: "Her fierce visions of dissociations and madness, of alienation and withdrawal, of cruelty and terror, have been taken to be personal, even neurotic fantasies. Quite the reverse: They are a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the bomb."
In 1948, the spread of Communism was also a significant concern. Communists took control in Czechoslovakia, the Soviet occupation force in Germany established a blockade between Berlin and West Germany, and tensions escalated between the democratic Republic of South Korea and Communist-led North Korea. Additionally, President Truman's advisor Bernard Baruch coined the term "Cold War" to describe the rising hostilities between East and West. In the U.S. Congress, the House Un-American Activities Committee investigated Alger Hiss, a State Department official accused of providing classified documents to the Soviet Union. Two years later, in 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy initiated a Communist "witch hunt" that persisted for four years. Also in 1950, Congress passed the McCarran Act (Control of Communists Act) to severely restrict suspected Communists. A few years earlier, in 1947, many in the American entertainment industry were accused of Communist Party affiliations, leading to the creation of the Hollywood blacklist, which included about 300 writers, directors, and actors. Notable figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Lee Grant, and Arthur Miller were among those accused of being Communists.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, the United States was predominantly a patriarchal society, where women were primarily expected to stay at home and care for the children. Recent critics have analyzed "The Lottery" through a feminist lens, suggesting that Jackson was commenting on the status of women in American society during the time the story was penned. For instance, Peter Kosenko noted in the The New Orleans Review in 1985 that in "The Lottery," women "occupy a clearly subordinate position within the socio-economic structure of the village."
Expert Q&A
How does "The Lottery"'s post-WWII context influence reader interpretation?
"The Lottery" reflects post-WWII anxieties by highlighting themes of blind adherence to tradition and the cruelty within seemingly civilized societies. These themes resonate with the era's experiences, such as the Holocaust and the spread of Communism, where individuals were sacrificed for perceived communal benefits. The story critiques the lack of individuality and the ease with which societies can follow harmful ideologies, mirroring fears of totalitarianism and the "Red Scare" in the post-war context.
Does "The Lottery," published in 1948, comment on any cultural or historical events?
"The Lottery," published in 1948, comments on cultural and historical events such as the scapegoating and persecution seen during and after World War II. The story reflects on how people, like the Germans with the Jews and Americans during the Cold War, often comply with traditions or ideologies that target individuals as threats or scapegoats. Shirley Jackson's narrative critiques the blind adherence to harmful traditions and the dehumanization that accompanies societal conformity.
Does "The Lottery" suggest something about human nature and society by modernizing a crude ritual?
"The Lottery" suggests that human nature and society are capable of both kindness and cruelty by modernizing a brutal ritual. Shirley Jackson illustrates how violence and savagery can occur in any community, masked by normalcy. The story depicts an idyllic town that unquestioningly participates in a horrific lottery, reflecting how modern society has become desensitized to violence. This duality in human nature highlights the potential for both compassion and evil within societal norms.
What is the social and political context of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?
The social and political context of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is small-town American life in the mid-20th century. This horrifying short story can be seen as a critique of the mindless conformity and unthinking attachment to tradition that became especially prominent during the early stages of the Cold War.
Is the lottery in the story a tradition of human sacrifice for a bountiful harvest? What motivates the town's cooperation, and what keeps the lottery in place?
The lottery is a tradition of human sacrifice intended for a bountiful harvest, deeply ingrained in the town's culture. The townspeople's cooperation is motivated by the belief that it ensures good fortune and harvest, and the fear of becoming the victim themselves. Tradition and fear of change keep the lottery in place, despite its senseless violence. The story critiques the blind adherence to tradition and the normalization of violence in society.
Why do societies maintain rituals and traditions, like those depicted in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," even when their original meanings may be lost?
Societies maintain rituals and traditions, even when their original meanings are lost, because they provide a sense of continuity, identity, and communal participation. These practices, like those in "The Lottery," often evolve over time, preserving their basic structure while their specific meanings may change or fade. Rituals can become mere formalities or excuses for celebration, reflecting social and cultural shifts, yet they remain significant as markers of historical or cultural identity.
Cultural and Historical Satire in "The Lottery"
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" satirizes societal conformity and the acceptance of outdated, violent traditions. Written post-World War II, it reflects on themes like the Holocaust, Cold War paranoia, and mindless adherence to societal norms, paralleling events like the Salem witch trials and the anti-Communist McCarthy era. The story critiques the dangers of unquestioned tradition, likening the lottery's senseless violence to historical and contemporary practices such as slavery, segregation, and the military draft, urging reevaluation of harmful customs.
How does irony in "The Lottery" reflect World War II?
The irony in "The Lottery" reflects World War II by highlighting the juxtaposition of normalcy with horrific acts, similar to how ordinary people during WWII were aware of the atrocities committed by Nazis yet remained passive. The villagers' acceptance of ritual killing mirrors the scapegoating and persecution of Jews, gays, and other minorities by the Nazis and Soviets. This irony emphasizes the dangers of complacency and the moral responsibility to oppose evil.
Analyzing "The Lottery" Through Historical, Cultural, and Theoretical Lenses
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," written in 1948, reflects the post-World War II era's social tensions, such as the rise of Communism and the Red Scare, drawing parallels to the Holocaust and McCarthyism. The story critiques blind tradition and social conformity, themes relevant to the period's climate of fear and persecution. Through postmodern and deconstructionist lenses, the text challenges stable meanings and critiques societal norms like patriarchy and tradition. Marxist criticism highlights the utilitarian morality dictated by the ruling class, exposing the story's underlying social and economic hierarchies.
Motivations and attitudes of the townspeople towards participating in "The Lottery."
The townspeople's motivations and attitudes toward participating in "The Lottery" are largely rooted in tradition and conformity. Many participate without questioning the ritual, showing a mix of reluctance and blind acceptance. The event is a normalized part of their lives, and despite some underlying fear or discomfort, they comply because it is a long-standing community practice.
Critical Reception
During her lifetime, Shirley Jackson achieved both popular and critical acclaim, yet her work, apart from the universally recognized story "The Lottery," has largely been neglected by serious literary circles since her passing. Lynette Carpenter suggests that this oversight is the very reason feminist critics have begun to reevaluate Jackson's contributions. Carpenter posits that Jackson was dismissed by traditional critics because she delved into genres not traditionally regarded as "serious fiction," such as gothic novels, humorous writing, and domestic sketches. However, modern critics have started to uncover the thematic richness that lies beneath Jackson's seemingly mundane narratives, themes that Anne LeCroy refers to as "the paraphernalia of living." With the benefit of hindsight, these works are now understood to critique the conservative norms regarding women's roles in the late 1940s.
Jackson's narratives often portray women caught in a struggle between the safety of traditional domestic roles, which demand total self-sacrifice, and the pursuit of personal freedom, often leading to a fractured sense of identity. Her stories do not offer simple resolutions but instead present these dilemmas through a blend of humor and horror. Richard Pascal notes that "What seems to fascinate Shirley Jackson most is the possibility that behind the self which we ordinarily assume to be irrevocably ingrained, if not preordained, there is nothing immutably necessary which we can call our own; it is, for her, an idea which is both frightening and alluring."
While these issues are central to women’s literature, they resonate with broader human concerns. Critic Donna Burrell highlights that Jackson not only examined the division of communal duties but also delved into the roles available to each gender, questioning the justification for these divisions and exploring the complications that arise when individuals do not conform to their expected roles. Jackson's perspective on human nature is fundamentally pessimistic, with none of her stories offering the solace of a traditional happy ending. Nonetheless, her work is both challenging and enthralling, illustrating the inherent tension in balancing individual and social identities through a series of compelling psychological parables.
Expert Q&A
What interpretations can be made from Jackson's story considering the following perspectives: a primitive fertility rite, post-WWII horror, a satire of our society, or a memorable story with no significance?
Interpreting Jackson's story involves examining various perspectives, each needing context beyond the text. Viewing it as a primitive fertility rite could be supported by the line about the lottery ensuring "corn be here soon." Interpreting it as post-WWII horror requires understanding its historical context. As a societal satire, it highlights blind adherence to tradition. Arguing it has no significance is challenging, as it implies finding meaning in the absence of explicit evidence.
Compare and Contrast
1948: A Hollywood blacklist is created in 1947, with numerous entertainment industry figures accused of being Communists.
Today: While all U.S. citizens can freely choose their political affiliations, most align with major political parties. Ross Perot and the Labor Reform Party secured only 8.5 percent of the vote in the 1996 presidential election, as reported by ABC News.
1948: The Soviet Union occupies East Germany and blocks traffic between West Germany and Berlin.
Today: The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, falls in 1989; East and West Germany reunify in 1990.
1948: Birth control advocate Margaret Sanger establishes the International Planned Parenthood Federation, marking a significant step for women to gain more control over their reproductive health.
Today: Birth control options, including oral contraceptives and the Norplant implant, are legal and widely used across the United States.
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