What customs are depicted in "The Lottery"?

Custom is at the epicenter of the story "The Lottery" because that is precisely what the village lottery is: a local custom and tradition for which no villager has detoured.

Because of this custom, one of the central themes of the story "The Lottery" is complaisance. It seems that the only thing that the villagers know about the lottery for certain is that there has always been one. 

The narrator explains how, when asked about the origins of this custom, the answers are never straight, nor is there a sequence of events that can be offered to explain the need for this horrific and inhumane practice. Some say that it was a ritual to procure that there would be crops that year. Others talked about "ritual chants," while others spoke of specific wardrobe used for it. These ritualistic behaviors are also an aspect of custom, particularly for a very ancient practice. 

Still, the villagers do not sway from engaging in such practice. The way that they see custom, however, has nothing to do with pride, individuality, or even identification. It seems as if, in this particular village, custom means simply the blind, brainwashed following of something for no reason at all. 

One more aspect of custom is that here are tools that enable the practice to take place. This paraphernalia used in the lottery embodies the mentality of the villagers. The black box, for example, is  presumably the original one. Due to time, the box has fallen apart, gotten worn out, and looks shabby. The idea of getting a new box has been discussed over and over, but nothing is ever done or resolved. It is as if the villagers are simply unable to move away from it; or from anything. As a result, the box,

 ....grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.

Still, the villagers do nothing about it. 

Therefore, the custom aspects of the story include: The traditional practice in itself, the fact that this practice is followed by all, the fact that there is paraphernalia in place to enable it, and that there is a process that is followed by which the "winner" is picked. Unfortunately we know where the winner will end up: being stoned to death by the villagers before their supper time hits.

What symbols in "The Lottery" represent the dangers of tradition?

Three symbols in "The Lottery" that show the dangers of following tradition are the piles of stones the boys gather, the black box, and Old Man Warner.

The dangers of following tradition are shown in the way children at a young age learn that barbarous rituals are completely normal. For the children, stoning a fellow member of the community to death is presented as just another part of life, hardly different from an annual fair or a carnival. When children are indoctrinated into an unhealthy practice at a young age, it becomes all the more difficult to dislodge it.

The black box also shows the dangers of tradition. The box has clearly outlived its usefulness, just as the stoning has. The box is splintered, fading, and in need of replacement, just as the stoning is, but it is too easy to keep on with what has always been done. People try to ignore the box and all it means rather than facing the hard questions it presents. The box is a chief symbol of how facing change can be kicked downfield like a can but not addressed while severe and unnecessary damage is being done.

Finally, Old Man Warner shows the dangers of being so set in one's ways that one's attitude blocks change. Old Man Warner learned at some point that giving up the ritual of human sacrifice would lead the village backward, to "eating stewed chickweed and acorns," a ludicrous proposition. Nevertheless, his assurance stifles needed change and makes it all the harder for people like the Adams to dissent.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery"?

Besides the paraphernalia for the lottery drawing itself, the behavior of the townsfolk is symbolic. The children are dutiful and protective of the ritual as they are the first to assemble, seen in the orderly pile of stones that Bobby, Harry Jones, and Dickie Delacroix collect hours ahead, as well as the way the children are still talking of "the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands" though school is over for the year. The children are neither apathetic nor rebellious, and their regimented behavior is symbolic of a society that does not encourage its members to step outside traditions or entertain independent thought.

As Mr. Summers sets up for the lottery, the narrator observes that he

spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box.

The fact that none of the participants wants even the slightest change to the lottery is another symbol of how committed these people are to their ritual and how reluctant people are to change once they commit themselves to herd mentality.

Tessie Hutchinson's behavior is symbolic of hypocrisy. She has consented to live among people who carry on a barbaric tradition of unknown purpose, but when she becomes the victim, she attempts to evade what is coming by protesting "It isn't fair" to the other townspeople.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery"?

The most prominent symbols in "The Lottery" are: the black box, the stool, the slips of paper, the stones, and most importantly, the lottery itself. 

The lottery in Jackson's story becomes an ironic symbol, because of the reader's anticipation and background knowledge of how lotteries work.  Typically, lotteries feature a random game of chance, some type of drawing, in which the winner whose name or slip is drawn wins a prize.  In today's modern society with mega-million lotteries, the lottery has come to represent a life-changing event, as people dream of what they would do with their millions if they won the lottery. 

In Jackson's story, however, the positive anticipated outcome never arrives; Tessie Hutchinson does not win a fabulous prize.  Instead, her fellow villagers pragmatically stone her to death.  Jackson uses the lottery as a symbol in her novel to represent the dangers of following tradition merely for tradition's sake, and all of the other symbols incorporated into the story, the lottery paraphanalia, support this larger theme of customs and traditions.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery"?

There are a few significant symbols in "The Lottery":

The lottery-

The lottery, held every June, is a ritual that the villages follow. It symbolizes what Hannah Arendt called "the banality of evil." In other words, people in the different villages have become accepting of this cruel custom and think of it as a routine without feeling any moral repulsion. Often, too, there exists in the human being, a propensity for violence, as well as what Emerson termed, "the opium of custom." Just because the lottery has always been conducted, Old Man Warner believes it should continue. When one man tells him that some places have stopped having their lottery, Warner grumbles that doing so is foolish for the simple reason that "There's always been a lottery."

The black box-

Suggestive of a coffin, the black box contains the slips which are drawn by the villagers to determine who will be stoned. Since it contains every name in the village, no one escapes the lottery. It is stored each year in a specific place and brought out for the annual ceremony; the box is much like certain religious boxes that contain a ceremonial item.

The three-legged stool-

The black box is always set upon the three-legged stool. 

Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, held it securely on the stool until Mr. Summers had stirred the paper thoroughly with his hand. However, much of the ritual has been forgotten.

The stool acts as a symbol of historical and religious trios such as the Trinity and the Three Fates. The use of this old-fashioned stool also underscores the idea of tradition.

The stones-

Suggestive of the barbarism of the lottery, stoning is an ancient method of conducting a cruel and slow death. The stones, then, may symbolize the innate cruelty of humans. For instance, Mrs. Delacroix is friendly toward Tessie Hutchinson as they wait to learn whose name is drawn. However, after Tessie is named as the victim and she complains, Mrs. Delacroix calls out, "Be a good sport, Tessie...." Then, when the stoning begins,

Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands....

The people of Mrs. Hutchinson's community are so entrenched in tradition they have lost their individual qualities and their senses.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery"?

In "The Lottery" the black box itself is a symbol.  When the unnamed narrator mentions the box.  No one in the town remembers the original box, so the current box they are using, which is also old and warn, is a replacement box.

The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box.

This old box represents the tradition of the lottery itself.  No one really knows how the lottery began, but they keep following through with it, because it is what has always been done.

Also, the lottery itself is a symbol.  It symbolizes the harsh traditions of our society, many of which we carry out daily without knowing why. People go through the rites the way most people wash their hands.  They do not know why they do what they do, yet they continue with the ceremony that results in the death of a friend and neighbor. 

What are the symbols in "The Lottery"?

The Lottery contains several symbols that contribute to the work's entire meaning.

A first symbol to consider is the stones. In the beginning of the story, the very stones that the children play with for fun will later be used for the greatest possible destruction. These stones symbolize the power of life from beginning to end. In the beginning, life is simple, playful. As time goes on it becomes more complex and ultimately destructive. AS we age, our abilities to hurt each other increase. Our willingness to destroy each other increases.

A second and more important symbol is the black box itself. This color obviously symbolizes evil, but the features of the box represent the tradition that has remain unchanged. This box has seen incredible amounts of time. It is only used once a year, yet it is damaged.

The slips of paper represent each person, but beyond that these slips represent chance.

Names of many characters represents factors about them that hold irony. For example, "Graves" would symbolize death, "Summers" symbolizes the hope of the time of year.

The summer solstice is when the great event of the lottery occurs. For many, this is the longest day of the year just in terms of time. Literally and figuratively, for whoever "wins" the lottery, this day can become an eternity... in heaven or hell.

What are three symbols in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" that relate to the theme?

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a story that is full of symbols. Symbols are found in this story in people, objects, and names. There is even a symbol that is a piece of furniture.

Three of the most prominent are the lottery itself, the black box, and the names of several of the characters. The lottery is symbolic of the cruelty and inhumane practices that still exist in the world today. One of the reasons Jackson wrote this story was to bring attention to the inhumanity found in society. Another symbol is the black box from which families' names are picked. It clearly represents the doom that is forthcoming death (imminent death). It also represents tradition since it is coming apart and splintering in areas. Finally, the names of some of the characters are symbols. For instance, Mr. Graves name is symbolic of death. Mr. Summers' name is symbolic of the tradition itself and the fact that it occurs in summer. Mrs. Delacroix's name is symbolic because it means "of the cross" in French. It is an ironic symbol because there is nothing remotely Christian about the tradition (as far as cruelty goes).

How does "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson use the theme "The danger of blindly following tradition"?

Every year in June, the residents of a small New England town gather for the lottery. We know this is an old tradition because Old Man Warner says “There’s always been a lottery.” The lottery is based on an ancient superstition summed up in a saying: “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.”

We soon learn, however, that the lottery is a barbaric ritual in which an unfortunate person is stoned to death by the other residents. This is done to ensure a good harvest. Given that the story is set in the 20th century, one would expect the townspeople would know that performing a human sacrifice is not the way to guarantee a good harvest. Science is a better route to good crop yields. Carrying on this  outdated tradition blindly year after year simply causes unnecessary misery and suffering. A person dies each year for no reason and children are potentially left without a parent. Jackson's story invites us to think more broadly about putting human happiness ahead of traditions. 

How does "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson use the theme "The danger of blindly following tradition"?

Shirley Jackson uses her short story "The Lottery" as a thinly-veiled warning about the dangers of blindly following tradition.  Drenched in horror, the premise of the story depicts a small wholesome town full of kindly folk, who gather once a year to draw slips to decide who will be stoned to death in a ritual sacrifice game. 

The villagers stoically back the tradition of the lottery throughout the story, as Jackson provides details to show their support.  For example, they do not even want to change the accoutrement's of the lottery, like the black box, which is so battered it should be replaced, "but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box."

Jackson also reveals that the villagers' traditional mind-set is closed even to considering discarding the 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."

Old Man Warner snorted. "Pack of crazy fools..."

Jackson uses the brutal lottery as a terrifying example of when tradition overrides common sense and decency.  There is nothing wrong with following a tradition; however, tradition merely for tradition's sake can lead to the worst kinds of injustice. 

In a sentence, how would you describe the theme of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

A one-sentence description of the theme of "The Lottery" might be this: The story is about the sacrifice of one for the good of many. When we think of a lottery, we visualize riches, fame and fortune. We fantasize about all the things we could do if we just won the lottery. When the people in this story thought of a lottery, however, they had no pleasant fantasies to enjoy. They knew that the winner of the lottery was really no winner at all. That person would sacrifice his or her life so that the community might have a good harvest in the coming year.

In a sentence, how would you describe the theme of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

Mr. Warner also says "Used to be a saying 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'"  The theme of The Lottery is the mindless leming-like following of customs/traditions without questioning the purpose.

In a sentence, how would you describe the theme of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

In one of the Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays, Education, he wrote of his philosophy of life, whose basis was the inner resources of the self and revelation from the divine presence of the soul.  Among the factors that Emerson felt worked against these resources of the self was what he termed "the opium of custom."  This phrase has a direct corollary to Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery."  For, its theme can be stated using this very phrase: Jackson's short story demonstrates the evil of "the opium of custom."

Because the lottery is a custom of the village, some people follow this custom unthinkingly, and they even go so far as to praise it.  It is held because, as Mr. Warner says, doing away with it would only cause trouble.  He snorts at any change,

"It's not the way it used to be....people ain't the way they used to be."

The lottery is also held with Mr. Summers in charge because he "has the time and energy to devote to civic activities."  And, there is a sense of the importance of continuing these activities.  Mr. Summers, who "waits with an expression of polite interest" until a villager finishes talking so he can say, "All right, folks,...Let's finish quickly."  Mr. Summers simply wants to finish so he can return to his regular routine.  Clearly, here, the citizens have become inured to the senseless and random cruelty of the lottery.  Indeed, they are drugged by "the opium of custom."

What are the themes (like blindly following tradition) in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The unpredictability of life

All of the townspeople agree to participate in the lottery, but there is a general feeling of goodwill surrounding the event that suggests that no one really expects to personally draw the condemning paper. Flowers bloom profusely, the green grass creates a peaceful backdrop, and even Tessie Hutchinson herself arrives a bit late, explaining that she "clean forgot what day it was," her laughter that follows suggesting that she has no fear of being killed that day. The odds are definitely in her favor, but she is shocked when first her family is chosen and then she herself is determined to be the very unlucky lottery "winner." The lottery shows that even with the best odds, life can throw unexpected—and sometimes devastating—curve balls.

Human hypocrisy

Everyone gathers without complaint that one of the townspeople will die that day. They rationalize human death as a trade of sorts; sacrificing one person equates to a better harvest for everyone else. Tessie Hutchinson isn't an entirely sympathetic character because in order to save herself, she is perfectly willing improve her odds by tossing her married daughter's name into the odds now stacked more solidly against her:

"Bill," he said, "you draw for the Hutchinson family. You got any other households in the Hutchinsons?"

"There's Don and Eva," Mrs. Hutchinson yelled. "Make them take their chance!"

"Daughters draw with their husbands' families, Tessie," Mr. Summers said gently. "You know that as well as anyone else."

This is a low point in the hypocrisy of the town and shows that although everyone seems to be accepting of the idea of the lottery, the townspeople are really only willing to accept the terms if the horrific outcome falls to someone else. Thus, the story shows a dark side of human nature—a hypocrisy to complacently watch unfortunate events happen to others while believing this somehow improves one's own circumstances.

What are the themes (like blindly following tradition) in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

Tradition is clearly a major theme in "The Lottery." However, alongside this general point, it is worth noting that Jackson singles out one peculiarly nasty tradition for satire and condemnation: that of "scapegoating." Scapegoating was a tradition in several ancient societies, including Israel and Greece. In Israel, it was an actual goat, chosen by drawing lots in an annual ceremony, that was symbolically burdened with all the sins of the tribe and cast out into the wilderness to die. In Greece, the sacrificial victim was sometimes a man, who was chased out of the community by throwing stones. Most modern instances of scapegoating are more subtle and less violent than Jackson's literal version, but some are, perhaps, almost as cruel.

Another theme of the story is conformity. G. K. Chesterton once remarked that it is not possible to create a man by standing a sheep on its hind legs, but by standing a flock of sheep in this position, it is possible to make a crowd of men. The crowd of people in "The Lottery," apparently normal and friendly in other matters, blindly conform to this traditional instance of crowd-madness. Their conformity renders them inhuman and inhumane.

What are the themes (like blindly following tradition) in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

There are several major themes in "The Lottery."  One involves violence.  One of the reasons that Jackson wrote the story was to draw attention to the inhumanity of violence.  Jackson believed that society had become so used to violence that they were numb to it.  She wanted to use an extreme example to bring this issue out, hence the lottery winner being stoned to death.

Another theme is tradition, obviously.  While traditions are important in many societies, not all traditions are good ones!  Jackson makes the argument that some traditions are absolutely wrong and cruel and they should be abandoned.  Traditions are deeply rooted, however, and can be very difficult to change or to get rid of because they become a part of a community's heritage and history.  People get used to them, which makes them difficult to get rid of. 

Yet another theme is sexism.  What is odd in this story is that the women do not initially draw...the men do this, yet the women are able to pick once their family is chosen and be stoned to death!  There is the odd dichotomy of traditional female roles vs. women being fair game to be put to death by stoning!  Even the children are fair game. 

"The Lottery" is a story with many serious social/moral implications!

What implications does "The Lottery" make about traditions and ceremonies?

Shirley Jackson examines the dangers of blindly following traditions and rituals throughout her short story "The Lottery." While Jackson is not suggesting that all traditions and rituals are negative or threatening, she does illustrate the dangers attached to blindly following traditions simply for the sake of carrying on the custom. In Jackson's short story, the unnamed community continues to follow a brutal ritual, where each citizen is forced to draw a slip of paper and risks being stoned to death by their neighbors if they draw the slip with the black spot on it. Jackson emphasizes that senseless nature of the lottery by mentioning the various aspects of the tradition that were lost to time and the fact that the ritual is based on an ancient superstitious belief. Old Man Warner symbolically represents rigid traditionalists, who refuse to exercise perspective and tolerance while they insist on blindly following the senseless tradition. Tessie Hutchinson's brutal death poignantly highlights the dangers of blindly following tradition as Jackson intended. Her story influences readers to question the nature and function of certain traditions and cautions readers about the dangers of blindly conforming to society's expectations.

What implications does "The Lottery" make about traditions and ceremonies?

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a powerful argument against ritual and tradition. She is not arguing that all traditions and ceremonies are inherently evil. What she is showing us is that following a ritual mindlessly can lead people to evil acts. The people in the village clearly have no idea why this ritual is performed every year. They speculate about it, that perhaps it owed its origin to some sort of sacrifice to improve the harvest, but they seem to realize how silly that is. They acknowledge that other villages are abandoning the tradition, but they adhere to it blindly, doing something because it has always been done. We are civilized human beings, who should be able to reason about right and wrong and leave behind foolish and superstitious ceremonies, which is why tribes no longer practice cannibalism and we know better than to throw young virgins into volcanoes to placate the gods. Committing a barbaric act cannot be justified just because it has always been done, nor can it be justified on the basis that our leaders have told us to commit it.

What implications does "The Lottery" make about traditions and ceremonies?

The story implies that traditions and ceremonies are extremely important to the survival of the town as a whole.  Even though no one remembers the origins of the lottery, they cannot imagine not holding it on a yearly basis.  It is an ingrained ritual that will not be easily abandoned.  The older members of the town, such as Old Man Warner, who has witnessed 77 lotteries, is adamant about continuing to hold the lottery.  He is an example of how a meaningless tradition is clung to just because it has always been that way.

This town is superstitious about doing away with the lottery, afraid that if they abandon it that something bad will happen to the town.

According to the following passages, the lottery has taken on a life all its own, no one is willing to challenge the authority of the lottery.  There isn't anyone who wants to make such a decision as to why the lottery is important, or when and if it should be done away with, but there are plenty of people in the town who are uncomfortable with the ritual.

"The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box." (Jackson) 

"There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here." (Jackson)

Tessie Hutchinson, who is chosen as the winner of the lottery questions the legitimacy of the whole process, but no one cares.  Mrs. Dunbar, one of her neighbors, shows her disdain for the tradition by choosing only small stones.  While Mrs. Delacroix, another neighbor, shows her primitive instincts, by picking up the biggest and heaviest stones flinging them upon Tessie Hutchinson with enthusiasm.

What is the author's message about traditions in "The Lottery"?

Traditions should not be maintained past the point that they stop making sense. 

Sometimes traditions are continued just because they are traditions.  The point of this story is that to do something just because it is tradition is madness.  Although many traditions are harmless, some clearly are not.  The tradition of choosing one random villager to stone to death each year is not a harmless one.

The town’s against-all-common-sense adherence to tradition can be seen in to the symbolic three-legged stool and black box.  Both need to be replaced. No one ever gets around to doing it.  Why?  They have had them so long!  They are tradition.

Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking again about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done. The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained. 

The same is true of the three-legged stool.  They remain the same, or close to the same, year after year—box and stool.  The town won’t give up the box and stool, and they won’t give up the lottery.  The suggestion of giving up the lottery is scoffed at and reviled.

Old Man Warner snorted. "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, nobody work any more…”

As far as the people of the village are concerned, things have to be as they have always been because doing anything different is too difficult to even consider.  There is a mob mentality at work here.  Tradition is so strong that the older individuals enforce it on the younger ones until they become the older ones, and it never dies out.  The author's message is that it is our responsibility to speak up against this and fight traditions that are harmful.

What is the author's message about traditions in "The Lottery"?

"The Lottery" shows that when you blindly accept harmful traditions unnecessary cruelty follows.

In the story, a New England village maintains an old tradition in which one person from the community is sacrificed under the superstitious belief that their death will help the crops to grow. As a result, every June they run a "lottery" in which one person is randomly chosen to be stoned to death.

Although some of the villagers are increasingly uncomfortable with the lottery, as evidenced by the neglect of the black box that holds the lottery tickets, they are unwilling to abandon what has become an ingrained ritual. Many of them, like Tessie Hutchinson, have so accepted it that they don't question it — until they are faced with becoming the victim, at which point it is too late.

The story urges us to raise rational questions about doing things the way they have always been done, especially if these traditional ways are destructive. Jackson makes the point that if we don't work for positive change, outmoded and harmful beliefs and practices will continue to go on.

What is the author's message about traditions in "The Lottery"?

Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is about a town that does an annual lottery to determine who should be stoned to death. The morbid ending is definitely a twist for readers, who are tricked into thinking that the lottery gathering is a fun, festive annual tradition. It turns out that the lottery is neither fun nor festive; however, it is a tradition that the people of the town do year after year without knowing exactly why they do it. This is confirmed in a brief conversation involving Old Man Warner, who hints that the lottery used to have something to do with the corn harvest. Even the old man of the town doesn't know the true reason the lottery process began, but he adamantly supports the notion of doing the lottery for no other reason than following tradition. Mr. Adams mentions that some towns are giving up the lottery, and Old Man Warner flatly states that those people are fools.

The story forces readers to have to wrestle with who exactly are the foolish people. Is it the people that give up tradition, or is it the people that continue to follow a tradition that is clearly amoral, evil, pointless, and outdated? The entire story calls for readers to examine traditions and question whether or not the traditions are still valuable or if they are being followed for no other reason than to follow the historical precedent.

What are the symbols used in "The Lottery"?

In "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson uses several symbols to provide the readers clues to the tragic events that would occur at the end of her story. Each of these symbols is subtle but, in retrospect, deeply frightening.

The first symbol in the book is the rocks the boys gather:

Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix—the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy"—eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.

Boys playing with rocks could symbolize the innocence of childhood. What are rocks to boys other than toys? Later, Jackson flips this symbol of childhood on its head. Instead of symbolizing the innocence of childhood, these rocks are used as murder weapons which the boys fling at Tessie Hutchinson. 

The box from which names are drawn is the second major symbol in "The Lottery." The box symbolizes both the origins and the future of this lottery. The original box, like the actual reason for the lottery, "had been lost long ago" and, every year, Mr. Summers thinks about a new box (new tradition?). However, talk always faded "off without anything's being done."

While there are other symbols in the short story, these are two of the most important ones.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery" and why are they significant?

The lottery itself is a symbol of several things - blind conformity to social expectations, empty rituals, the scapegoat syndrome (needing someone to be 'guilty' for collective fault).

The minor characters in the play are also "stock characters," representing types. Even the main characters remain "flat" as they really don't change throughout the story line.

Check out the eNotes references below for more details concernig each of these aspects. The last reference is a review of a book treating the scapegoat ritual in various cultures and times. Note also the mention of an annual ritual of purification in the book of Exedous (Exedous 27: 1-8)in the Bible and its association with a transfer of corporate guilt.

What are the symbols in "The Lottery" and why are they significant?

The biggest symbols are the stone gathered by the children (which come into play in the end) and the pieces of paper.

One slip has a black spot, signifying death. The person who gets the black spot is stoned to death by the townspeople. The reason for the person dying is to help the crops grow. The death symbolizes the rebirth, a sacrifice needed to ensure the return of the harvest.

Another symbol to consider is the victim. Tessie is a major supporter of the lottery system until she wins. She changes her mind rather quick after that. That could represent life itself, i.e. "it isn't fair".

What evidence from "The Lottery" suggests it critiques blind obedience to tradition?

Shirley Jackson illustrates blind obedience to tradition by depicting how the villagers continue to participate in the lottery without understanding its true origins and not remembering the proper rituals that went along with the lottery. None of the community members recall the recital or the ritual salute before their names are drawn and refuse to replace the decaying black box simply because they are opposed to change. While these minor issues may seem unimportant, they are relevant to Jackson's portrayal of the villagers' mindset. The villagers are completely unaware of the lottery's origins and fail to remember the specific rituals associated with the ceremony yet continue to participate and keep the decaying black box in order to follow the brutal tradition.

During the conversation between Mr. Adams and Old Man Warner, Warner refers to the northern villages that have quit the lottery as a "Pack of crazy fools." Old Man Warner goes on to say,

"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, nobody work any more, live hat way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery" (Jackson, 4).

Old Man Warner's comments illustrate that the lottery may be associated with unfounded superstitious beliefs and depicts the ridiculous fear that the villagers would become uncivilized if they did not continue to participate in the lottery. Overall, Jackson illustrates the dangers of blindly obeying traditions by depicting the villagers' lack of understanding and insight into the function and procedures of the lottery while simultaneously portraying their unfounded fears of not following the brutal ritual.

What evidence from "The Lottery" suggests it critiques blind obedience to tradition?

One could prove that Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" offers social commentary on blind obedience to tradition. The most poignant evidence which illustrates this idea is Old Man Warner's reaction to talk of ending the lottery: "Pack of crazy fools," he said. "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them...There's always been a lottery." This quote illustrates the "fact" that the villagers simply go along with their village traditions based upon the idea that the lottery has always been a part of their culture.

Continuing upon this idea, Mrs. Adams tells Warner that other places have already quit the lottery. Warner states that there is "nothing but trouble in that." Essentially, the idea that the lottery only continues because it has always been there supports the idea that it only continues for that reason. 

What are the main symbols in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?

The overarching symbol of “The Lottery” is the lottery itself: an archaic practice that symbolizes the arbitrary nature of humans’ condemnation of others. Other symbols include stones, the town square, the black box, the three-legged stool, and black spots. These objects physically represent the religious and legal aspects of the town’s barbaric ritual.

At the beginning of the story, boys gather stones like tokens. Gradually, Jackson reveals that the collected stones are actually murder instruments. In addition to symbolizing physical violence, the stones represent people’s capricious and unfounded judgement of others. While saving a woman accused of adultery in John 8:7, Jesus challenges those who condemn her:

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

This story’s townspeople are human—and thus fallible and flawed—yet they still stone Mrs. Hutchinson to death without remorse.

The lottery ceremony takes place in the town square. Normally a space of community and connection, the square becomes a metaphoric courtroom for judgment and sentencing.

The black box symbolizes the town people’s slavish adherence to an antiquated practice.

No one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box.

Yet no one really understands why this tradition is followed without question each year. The current box was

made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here.

People in the story neither care about the box nor remember the lottery's significance or purpose. Indeed, it is a

surviving relic [that] has been neglected, becoming shabbier each year to the point of no longer being completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.

The lottery is viewed by the townspeople as a nuisance in their busy lives. Similarly, the black box is unceremoniously and carelessly stored between lotteries in places like a barn, “underfoot” in the post office floor, or a grocery store shelf.

The box sits on a stool, another symbol of both legal (in)justice and religion. Like a judge’s bench in court, the stool takes center stage and is presided over by Mr. Summer, the administrator of the trial and the box.

The stool displays the box that determines each person’s fate. People stay away from the stool and approach only when summoned by Mr. Summer. The stool’s “three-legged” design represents the Holy Trinity; the stool itself is like an altar from which Mr. Summer distributes judgments and grants people permission to approach.

Finally, the black spots symbolize judgement; they are black like sin and round like pox. The unlucky person who receives a slip of paper with a black dot is condemned to die, though for no concrete reason. The black spot metes out arbitrary condemnation and itself is contrived and manmade, written

with the heavy pencil in the coal company office.

Judgement and punishment are social constructs; only humans are capable of and willing to judge and punish others.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

Additionally, the setting of rural middle America is a symbol for the average citizen (more so at the time of the story's writing than in the 21st century, however). For example, an inner city setting would not have been as representative of the average American when Shirley Jackson wrote her fine short story. 

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The townspeople are symbolic of an unwillingness to challenge tradition and superstition.  They might mumble about other villages who have done away with lotteries, but the consensus seems to go along with the old man who says that those other places are crazy for ignoring the old adage, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon."  Their traditional actions, including having even the children of the condemned person throw stones, seem to ensure that this tradition of human sacrifice will continue into the foreseeable future.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The black box in its delipidated state, needing to be refurbished, is symbolic of tradition.  Just as in Romeo and Juliet and the Hatfields and McCoys where no can can remember how the feud started and why they continue fighting, no one can remember why or how the tradition of the lottery began except to say that it is for the assurance of good, healthy crops and that this is the way they've always done things. 

Take a look at the names of the characters in the story as well.  They are symbolic.  Mr. and Mrs. Graves are two of the most important people in town--Mr. Graves helps run the lottery and Mrs. Graves is the first in line to throw stones.  "Graves" sending people to their grave in each lottery.

Old Man Warner has been through the lottery seventy seven times.  He "warns" against the craziness of getting rid of the lottery when he overhears some younger people speaking about nearby communities putting aside this tradition.  He symbolizes tradition and complacency in body, character, and name.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

An additional symbolic meaning for the black box is the coffin. 

The stones--"that token of preposterous time" as Golding writes in Lord of the Flies--is symbolic of the timeless predilection in people for violence. 

The lottery--the word derives from the custom of drawing lots --itself is symbolic of the desire of people for a scapegoat.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

I think you could argue that the stones operate on a symbolic function in this story - they are the means by which the lottery's "winner" is killed, and thus could be said to be a symbol of ignorance and indiscriminating mob violence. It is very interesting that the stones are presented at the beginning of the story as almost a game - the children gather them into piles, but it is only when we get to the end of the story that we realise their sinister purpose.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The black box is symbolic of the darkness of ignorance that plagues the citizens of the community. They are reluctant to replace it even thought it's older than the oldest participating member of the lottery. Just as the community is unwilling to give up the ignorance of the old ways for the enlightenment of the new ways like some of the other communities have chosen to do.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

I'll start things off for you by using the most obvious symbol in "The Lottery"l--the lottery itself.  A lottery is traditionally a game, of sort, one which is associated with fun and success and chance--in the best possible way--and anticipation.  Only good things can come from lotteries, and even someone who loses doesn't really lose much.  It's more about the anticipation of something amazing to come.  In this story, then, the lottery serves as an ironic symbol--something which begins in a harmless and sociable way but ends in tragedy.  Several other symbols to consider are the stones, the black box, the stool, and all the other symbols which are represented in the lottery itself.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

The black box is indeed the main symbol.  It represents tradition.  The villagers are not sure about the box's history.  They recall a chant and a certain handshake that used to go with it.  Indeed the original box is tattered and worn, barely  holding together.  They did make some modifications, replacing wood chips with slips of paper as the villages population grew.  The only thing they are really certain about is the use of rocks.

The Lottery, like the box, is shrouded in mystery.  No one really knows why they conduct it (other than Old Man Warner making a reference to it having to do with good corn crops in June).  They just follow along because it has always been done. 

There has been talk of getting rid of the lottery, indeed some towns already have, and there seems to be some talk among the young people of junking the lottery.  In this way the lottery is like the box.  It is barely clinging together.  But just as the villagers pull the box out once a year and go through the proceedings, observing what ceremonies and protocols they remember, they still obediently observe the lottery.

What is a fundamental symbol in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

I would say it's the black box.  It symbolizes the tradition that no one can clearly remember the how or why it started or why they continue to practice.  It is old and shabby, falling apart, and the wooden chips have long since gone missing--now replaced by the black and white pebbles/marbles.  The only thing people haven't forgotten is to get there early and collect enough stones to throw at the poor, unfortunate "winner" of the lottery.

The box is in need of renovation (like the practice of the lottery itself), but no one bothers.  It is simply put up on the shelf and kept there safely until the next year's lottery is upon them.