What symbols or allusions are linked to Bentham, Martin, and Hutchinson in "The Lottery"?

The name Bentham is a possible reference to Jeremy Bentham, an influential British philosopher who advocated the principles of utilitarianism. According to the philosophy of utilitarianism, the rightness of an action must be judged by the consequences of the action. Thus, any action that provides the greatest pleasure to the greatest number of people can be considered a "good" action. Jeremy Bentham hypothesized that morally righteous actions result from the desire to avoid pain and the need to achieve pleasure.

This utilitarian theory is quite clearly seen in the story. Jackson does not tell us why there is a need for the lottery, merely that it is deemed necessary to the community in question. Thus, one unfortunate person is sacrificed annually in order to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people in the community. However, the question begs to be asked: can any amount of collective happiness justify the cold execution of an innocent? Perhaps the main reason Jackson does not provide a rationale for the lottery is to illustrate the dangers of such thinking.

Another name in the story, Martin, may be a reference to Martin Luther, the originator of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Martin Luther's teachings about sanctification and his exposure of internal ecclesiastical corruption became highly popular with congregations in England. Eventually, armed with the teachings of Martin Luther and John Calvin as inspiration, Puritans (those who believed in purifying the church from within) made their way to New England. In the 1630s, almost 20,000 Puritans set sail for New England. Yet, in their fervent desire to purify the church, Puritans often became intransigent in spiritual matters.

To illustrate the dangers of such intransigence, it is noteworthy that Jackson includes the name Hutchinson in the story. The name is quite possibly a reference to Anne Hutchinson, a New England religious leader who settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634. As a leader, Anne advocated a different approach to personal salvation: she posited that good works alone could not lead to salvation. Resolutely, she stressed the importance of an individual's personal religious experience over the ecclesiastical authority of the minister's. This led to conflict within the colony and eventually caused Anne to be excommunicated from the Church of Boston. Thus, it is fitting that, in Jackson's story, Tessie Hutchinson is the one chosen for execution. Like Anne before her, Tessie is rejected and disposed of by the community.

What symbols or allusions are linked to Bentham, Martin, and Hutchinson in "The Lottery"?

Tessie Hutchinson's name is based on the famous Massachusetts Bay Colony religious pioneer Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643), who was declared a heretic and excommunicated from the Puritan Church. Like Tessie, her arguments failed to sway church leaders, who banished her from the colony. The name of Mr. Martin, who assists Mr. Summers by guarding the lottery box, originates from the Latin Martinus, which came from the Roman god Mars, "the protective godhead of the Latins" and the Roman god of war. The name of Bentham is probably a reference to Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), a British philospher who was an advocate for the separation of church and state, women's rights and freedom of expression.

Author Shirley Jackson's use of names were deliberately allegorical or symbolic; other examples include:

• Mr. Adams, who stands at the front of the crowd and, presumably, casts the first stone when the stoning begins, is named after the first man created by God--Adam.
• Delacroix in French means "of the cross."
• Old Man Warner constantly "warns" the others about the better days of the past.
• Mr. Summers, the head of the lottery, conducts the town's most important event each summer.
• Mr. Graves, who helps conduct the lottery, annually helps to send one of the town's citizens to their grave. 

What is the symbolism or irony behind the names of characters in "The Lottery"?

Several of the characters in "The Lottery" have particularly apposite names. Old Man Warner takes on a monitory role—warning against the foolishness of giving up the lottery, as other villages have done. The French name Delacroix (the pronunciation of which is Americanized by the villagers) means "of the cross" and suggests a sacrifice.

There is also a Bentham among the villagers, a rather unusual name amongst the others that are called (Allen, Anderson, Clark, etc.). This recalls the philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, who coined the axiom "it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong," a notion clearly relevant to the ritual in the story.

Most suggestive, however, is the partnership of Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves, the former officiating and the latter assisting. The lottery takes place in high summer—on the 27th of June and on a beautiful sunny day. Mr. Summers, therefore, presides and strikes the dominant note. It is only toward the end that we see the significance of Mr. Graves's name, evident in Tessie's impending death.

What are three allegorical examples in "The Lottery"?

An allegory is a story that uses language to say something beyond the literal: allegory symbolizes a deeper abstract or spiritual truth or moral.  The story usually uses a series of symbols to convey the theme.  In Shirley Jackson's story, "The Lottery," the author uses several symbols to convey through allegory her ideas about superstition and tradition, as well as about mob mentality.

The rocks that are being collected by the children at the start of the story represent in small way the larger stones that will be thrown at the end of the story.  Those stones will kill Tessie as part of a superstition-driven yearly ritual that is done as means to ensure good crops.  The old saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" is the mantra that keeps this tradition alive.  While the people in this town have an inkling that this traditional or ritual is going out of favor in other towns, they keep it alive out of a sense of tradition.  The fact that everyone in the town must participate in the eventual stoning is important as it serves to eliminate any one person from being guilty of killing the winner of the lottery.  Sharing the guilt makes them all innocent in a way and perpetuates the lottery.  Jackson does a great job of illustrating how this method of killing makes it easy for the people to get caught of in the anonymity of the mob.

Two other symbols for the allegory are the old black box and the slips of paper that are used for the lottery.  The box is part of the tradition, but it isn't treated with much respect anymore.  The slips of paper represent each family, but they also represent the completely random nature of this ritual.

Some other symbols in the story that you could analyze in regards to their connection to the themes are: the names of some of the characters; the "rules" such as men drawing for women; the ironic title of the story.  Almost every aspect of this great story is symbolic of something larger, and thus contributes to the allegory.

What do the children symbolize in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The children are probably intended to represent the next generation of citizens who are being taught how to participate in the annual lottery. It is because each new generation of children is taught to participate, and sees their parents and parents' parents participate, that the lottery continues. The whole procedure of drawing and stoning is solemn and serious, although there is no sense to it, and never was. If children were not indoctrinated at the earliest age, the lottery would cease to exist. Little Davy, who is a member of the Hutchinson family, appears to be only about two years old, yet he is being shown how to draw the slip of paper which could contain the black spot that would mean his own death. A group of boys who are a bit older already know the important rules. They are collecting rocks to throw at the person who will be selected. All ages are represented in the story for the purpose of showing that the lottery is an age-old tradition. Davy will be like Old Man Warner someday, if he manages to survive all the annual drawings. By that time, Davy will be thoroughly convinced of the value and necessity of this superstitious event.

What are the allusions, irony, and symbolism in character names in "The Lottery"?

The lottery could be an obscure religious ritual of sacrifice to bring fertility to the area. The man who organizes the lottery is Mr. Summers, perhaps a symbol for the most productive time of the year for the community—and the man in charge of keeping it that way.

Mr. Graves's name could symbolize that the ritual of the lottery is of grave importance to the continued well-being of the community. And, of course, the person who is ritually sacrificed is headed to a grave.

Old Man Warner's name derives from a name that traditionally designated a soldier who served as a guard in times of war. Perhaps he guards the ritual of the lottery, because he speaks against the idea of discontinuing it.

The name Martin derives from the god of war, Mars. There is violence involved in the ritual of the lottery, and the Martins take part.

The name Hutchinson alludes to a Puritan woman, Anne Hutchinson, whose unorthodox religious beliefs caused her expulsion from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the case of both women, their communities turned against them.

What are the allusions, irony, and symbolism in character names in "The Lottery"?

In "The Lottery," author Shirley Jackson gives some interesting names to several of her characters. The most obvious one is the name "Delacroix," which means "of the cross," which along with Bobby Martin's name--Martin meaning "ape," and Harry Jones, which is a very common name, all together allude to the idea of the uncivilized part of all of us--the "Hairy Ape," so to speak. Mrs. Delacroix, who is described as being friendly and warm, at the end picks up a rock so big she can barely carry it. She follows the rules of the lottery with gusto--perhaps as many follow their faith without question.

Furthermore, we have Mr. Adams, probably based on Adam of the Biblical Adam and Eve, Mr. Graves, whose name's meaning is obvious, and Hutchinson. Anne Hutchinson of Massachusetts was declared a heretic by the Puritans and cast out of her home and town in the 1600s. She, like Tessie Hutchinson, had an unfair trial (or in Tessie's case--none at all for no crime at all). Anne was banished, and Tessie was stoned.

What are some biblical allusions in "The Lottery"?

The most clear allusion to the bible in Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" is found in the process of the lottery, itself, which evokes the biblical saying,

“He who is without sin may cast the first stone”

The practice of the lottery involves the stoning of an everyday citizen for no particular reason, save the pulling of the name of the unsuspecting individual from the black box. However, there is more biblical allusion in that the practice, itself, is followed almost as a religious ritual.

some people remembered, there had been a...perfunctory tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the lottery used to stand just so when he said or sang it, others believed that he was supposed to walk among the people...

This description clearly means to illustrate a saintly procession complete with hymns and the evocation of something otherworldly through chants. It also intends show someone standing out from the crowd resembling a divine being.

Notice also how blindly the villagers follow the practice and how nobody questions, nor defies it -with the exception of poor Tessie at the end of the story. Even the mere mention of forfeiting the practice altogether is looked upon almost as sacrilege. This is evident in Old Man Warner's reaction to Mr. Adams when the latter informed him of the other village's talk of suspending their (other village's) own lottery.

“Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next thing you know, they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves... There’s always been a lottery,”

Therefore, in the practice of stoning, and in the blind following of a ritual whose origin is still confusing to the villagers, Shirley Jackson evokes a biblical scenario. The lottery represents the blind faith in all things around us; the unquestionable status quo which is very obvious in many religious organizations these days. The use of stoning is a clever way for Jackson to emphasize on the dangers of ancient thinking in a modern world. Without the sense of a faithful and seemingly religious following, the story would not have the same effect in the reader. Hence, this allusion to something biblical colors the story in a way that helps the reader understand the dangers and the tragedy that lurks beneath this group of villagers.

What role do the children play in 'The Lottery' and do they have any symbolic significance?

In Shirley Jackson's celebrated short story "The Lottery," the nondescript town participates in a senseless, brutal ritual each June. A random innocent citizen is violently stoned by their family, neighbors, and community members after drawing the slip of paper with the black spot. The entire community participates in the annual lottery and children play an active role in the brutal ritual. Before the lottery begins, the children gather stones and pile them in the corner of the town square. In addition to witnessing the lottery, the children also participate in the tradition by drawing from the black box alongside their family members.

Even children too young to understand the ritual participate in the lottery, which is depicted when little Davy Hutchinson draws a slip of paper with the help of Mr. Graves. Once the unlucky citizen draws the slip with the black spot, the children participate in the violent stoning. At the end of the story, Davy is given several pebbles to throw at his mother, who becomes the town's scapegoat.

The children play a significant role in the story and contribute to Jackson's message regarding the dangers of blindly following tradition. The children are indoctrinated into the lottery at a young age, and every citizen is familiar and comfortable with the violent tradition. The children will carry on the lottery. Their presence symbolically represents the way traditions are passed down through generations as well as the relationship between the past, present, and future. By including the children in the ritual, Jackson depicts the relationship between tradition, learned behavior, indoctrination, and insensitivity, which all contribute to the continuation of senseless rituals like the lottery.

What is the significance of the characters' names in "The Lottery"?

Old Man Warner  has been in the lottery seventy-seven times.  He is the oldest person in the village, which shows that tradition is not broken, be it good or bad.  His existence is a WARNing of the evils of bad traditions.  Mr. GRAVEs is exactly that - this year, someone else is going to die in the lottery.  Mr. Summers represents that the tradition continues from one season to the next uninterrupted.  Many SUMMERS have  passed since the lottery began, and many more will continue to pass.  Mrs. Hutchinson is the only voice against the lottery, but I don't know about any specific symbolism in her name.  Mrs. Delacroix's name means "of the cross."  Her name is a comment on how Christians act in certain ways in the name of Christ that might not always be the best choices.

What are some examples of fantasy in "The Lottery"?

The chief element of fantasy in "The Lottery" is that a village in New England in the late 1940s would be conducting a human sacrifice each year to insure a good harvest. A second element of fantasy is that other villages in New England would be following the same barbaric custom. A third fantasy element is that law enforcement in the state would be tolerant of this kind of violation of the law. There was no place in the United States in the 1940s in which human sacrifice was in any way legal. It is fantastic, too, to believe that the villagers could keep this a secret from law enforcement. Finally, it is fantastic to believe that by the middle of the twentieth century, people would still adhere to a violent superstition that science had long ago disproven.

The story, therefore, asks us to suspend quite a bit of disbelief. It works by taking what, through much of the story, seems like an everyday small town and weaving into it the fantasy element of human sacrifice. Because it is so incredible to us that people in the modern world could stone a member of their community to death, we don't notice such ominous signs as the piles of rocks the boys collect.

What could be the symbolism or allusion of the name "Hutchinson" in "The Lottery"?

Tessie Hutchinson's name definitely has a historical context and a much deeper meaning that goes along nicely with the dark outcome of"The Lottery."  Consider the archaic practices of a village that stone to death a woman, a wife and a mother. 

Anne Hutchinson led prayer groups in 1637 in Boston.  She was known to be outspoken, and even critical of some of the local ministers.  She was put on trial by the local religious authorities and banished from the community.  Hutchinson's trial was the precursor of the more famous Salem Witch Trials. 

Is Tessie Hutchinson acting as Anne Hutchinson would have and did?  Anne was clearly vocal about her beliefs, and her actions cost her.  Tessie is also vocal about the unfairness of the drawing, but unlike Anne, receives no second chance.

In "The Lottery," do the characters' names hold any significance?

The characters in "The Lottery" are mostly named with simple, folksy names; no one has an overtly symbolic name, save for Old Man Warner, who represents tradition and history. His name is a nickname, though, as he would only be called "Mr. Warner" and therefore have little symbolism. Mr. Graves could have symbolic merit, as he helps to officiate the ritual that ends with the winner in a literal grave, but this is not in the text and must be extrapolated.

One character who could be said to have overt symbolism to his name is Mr. Summers, who oversees the lottery; since it is, at the end, a harvest sacrifice, Summers represents the growing season of summer, after the crops have been laid in. He keeps the crowd under control and makes the lottery accessible instead of horrifying; in this manner, Mr. Summers represents the meaning of the tradition.

What is the possible symbolism of the elements and character names in "The Lottery"?

As an allegory, The Lottery was written with many purposefully symbolic elements.  Like other allegories (such as The Scarlet Letter or The Pilgrim's Progress) many of the characters names are supposed to be symbolic.

Mr. Summers: despite the fact that Mr. Summers is intimately involved in the tradition of the lottery, his name suggests joy, positivity, energy.  This character is symbolic of the dual nature of this town - one that can host a variety of positive activities in addition to the yearly ritual of death: "square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program, and of course, the lottery."  Mr. Summers is involved in everything.

Mr. Graves: as the postmaster of the town, Mr. Graves holds a position of power.  His name, Graves, suggests something ominous and/or related to death.  He helps Mr. Summers carry out the procedure of the lottery directly associating the "death" connotation of his name to the lottery itself.

Old Man Warner: the "Old Man" part of this characters name suggests he is a constant in the town, someone who has been there so long, no one remembers a time when he wasn't there.  Old Man Warner symbolically represents the tradition of the town and therefore the tradition of the lottery.  Also, his last name, Warner, suggests him to be "One who warns."

Mr. Adams: he is the first character to draw for the lottery because Adams comes first alphabetically, but this is also a direct reference to Adam as the first man (Biblical reference).  Interesting too, the Adams' are among only a few characters who question the lottery.  This could be directly compared to Adam and Eve "questioning" God when they ate the fruit and changed the course of mankind forever.

Mrs. Delacroix: she is a character who is known for her inconsistency and seeming two-faced nature.  Her last name literally translates in French to "of the cross" and her name could be symbollic of the same two-faced nature of the crowd in the New Testament who decided crucify Jesus Christ instead of Barrabus.

*Below you find a link to further examples of symbolism in the short story.

Why are names important in "The Lottery"?

The author wanted to create the impression of a large gathering of people. She does this by using the word "crowd" repeatedly throughout the story. For example:

The crowd was quiet. A girl whispered, "I hope it's not Nancy," and the sound of the whisper reached the edges of the crowd.

Jackson also names many names in order to enhance the idea of a crowd. Some of the names are used with variations. For instance, Mr. Summers is also called Joe, and Mrs. Hutchinson is also called Tessie and Tessie Hutchinson. Here is a list of all the names mentioned in the story in order of naming:

• Bobby Martin
• Harry Jones
• Dickie Delacroix
• Mr. Martin
• Baxter Martin
• Joe Summers
• Harry Graves
• Old Man Warner
• Tessie Hutchinson
• Mrs. Delacroix
• Clyde Dunbar
• Mrs. Dunbar
• Horace Dunbar
• Jack Watson
• Steve Adams
• Allen Anderson
• Bentham Clark
• Mr. Delacroix
• Harburt
• Bill Hutchinson
• Jones
• Mrs. Adams
• Overdyke
• Percy
• Don
• Eva
• Bill Hutchinson, Jr.
• Nancy Hutchinson
• Nancy Hutchinson’s unnamed school girlfriends
• Dave Hutchinson
• Mrs. Graves

Clyde Dunbar is not present because he is home with a broken leg. But the questions and answers about him help to show that attendance at this ritual is compulsory unless someone has a valid excuse. In other words, it shows that everyone else is present. They can't escape by staying away. Mrs. Dunbar draws for her household in place of her husband.

When Tessie Hutchinson is selected as this year's victim, Old Man Warner helps to create the impression of the entire mass of about three hundred villagers converging on her with stones. He says: "Come on, come on, everyone."

Steve Adams was in front of the crowd of villagers. It is interesting that Steve Adams had just been hinting to Old Man Warner that it might be possible to give up this annual lottery.

"They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."

Yet Steve Adams is joining Old Man Warner in leading the crowd of Tessie's friends, neighbors and relatives all armed with stones.