Themes: The Importance of Questioning Tradition
The lottery is an annual tradition for the villagers, and they dutifully uphold it. Once a year, on June 27, someone is randomly selected to be ritually sacrificed. This person is not guilty of any crime, nor does there appear to be a restriction on age. No amount of protest from the selected party will change the will of the town once the lottery is complete. The killing is considered justified since everyone took the same risk. Though the town breathes a sigh of relief when little Dave Hutchinson’s slip is blank, there is nothing to suggest that they would not have killed him had he drawn the marked paper from the black box instead. The townsfolk are willing to turn on their neighbors, friends, and even their own families, which speaks to the dangers of blindly following tradition.
As the oldest resident and the lottery’s most vocal proponent, Old Man Warner represents strict adherence to tradition. The younger townsfolk are nervous and solemn during the ceremony. Some, like the Watson boy, seem to have reservations about participating. In contrast, Old Man Warner proudly proclaims that he has been through 77 lotteries. For him, the lottery is necessary for the town’s survival. He is unable to envision a world without the lottery. Mr. and Mrs. Adams mention that other towns have given up the lottery. Old Man Warner claims that this will lead to nothing but trouble. He is scornful towards younger people, claiming that “nothing is good enough for them.” His resistance to change echoes the town’s steadfast upholding of the lottery as a tradition.
No one, even Old Man Warner, knows exactly when or why the lottery began. This sense of timelessness gives it power. Since they do not know why it began, they cannot be certain of what will happen if they stop it. Instead, they cling to it for fear that “trouble” will happen if they break with tradition. The culture of the town seems structured around the idea that the lottery is necessary for survival. Their unwillingness to question the lottery as a tradition suggests that change is a fundamental human fear. They would prefer to continue their brutal tradition rather than risk losing a longstanding part of their culture.
However, the townspeople's adherence to tradition is inconsistent. For example, they refuse to make a new box, but they were willing to switch to paper over wood chips. They are reluctant to let a woman draw for her household, yet they have long since dispensed with the ceremonial rituals. This inconsistency suggests that tradition for the sake of tradition is meaningless. The townsfolk agreed to start using paper over traditional wood chips because the population of the town had grown. Through this detail, Jackson suggests that as the cultural context of the world changes, so should its traditions. While the wood chips made sense for a smaller population, they do not for a larger one. Similarly, just as the lottery used to make sense, an increasing number of villages are questioning its presence in a more modern world. Jackson uses “The Lottery” to ask readers to question the traditions of the world around them.
Expert Q&A
The village's continued participation in the lottery and its underlying purpose
The village continues to participate in the lottery primarily out of tradition and an unexamined adherence to the past. Despite losing the original paraphernalia and forgetting parts of the ritual, the villagers persist because it's what they've always done. This blind routine is reinforced by irrational fears, such as Old Man Warner's belief that ending the lottery would lead to chaos and poor harvests.
How does the reader's view on the lottery change throughout the story?
Although "The Lottery" begins with positive imagery, characters such as Old Man Warner begin to shift the tone as the story develops. Old Man Warner, a character who resists change, is the central voice of tradition in the story and is fundamental in developing the theme about the dangers of blindly following tradition.
The original purpose of the lottery and the townspeople's beliefs about it
The original purpose of the lottery in the story was to ensure a good harvest by sacrificing a member of the community, based on the belief that such a ritual would bring prosperity. The townspeople continue to uphold this tradition, though many have forgotten the exact reasons behind it, showing the power of conformity and tradition over reason.
Rituals, Symbols, and Critique of Tradition in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" critiques the dangers of blindly following tradition. The story reveals how rituals, like the annual lottery, become ingrained despite their senseless brutality, as the townspeople participate in a barbaric stoning for a supposed good harvest. Symbols such as the black box, stones, and slips of paper highlight the ritual's arbitrary nature and the community's resistance to change. Jackson uses these elements to caution against conformity and challenge the validity of outdated customs.
In "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, what evidence suggests the lottery has a long history?
"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson provides several indications of the lottery's long history. The black box used for drawing names predates the oldest man in town, and the names of townsfolk used to be written on wood chips, used for generations before being replaced with paper. Additionally, a "recital of some sort" was performed annually before the names were drawn, but this tradition was dropped "years and years ago." The phrase "There’s always been a lottery" implies an enduring tradition.
Significance of lost original box and changing rituals in "The Lottery"
The lost original box and changing rituals in "The Lottery" signify the erosion of tradition and the blind adherence to outdated practices. The villagers continue the lottery without understanding its origin or purpose, highlighting the dangers of following rituals without questioning their relevance or morality.
What evidence in paragraphs 5-7 suggests villagers in "The Lottery" don't fully understand their tradition?
Evidence in paragraphs 5-7 suggests the villagers don't fully understand their tradition as the original lottery paraphernalia is long lost, and the current black box is old and neglected. Slips of paper replaced wood chips, and the box migrates around town, indicating its diminished significance. Additionally, many rituals, like a chant and salute, have been abandoned, showing the villagers' disinterest and mechanical adherence to a tradition they no longer comprehend.
What paraphernalia is used in "The Lottery" and how is the tradition preserved?
In "The Lottery," the main paraphernalia includes a black wooden box and slips of paper used for drawing lots, with stones employed in the ritual execution. The tradition has been preserved in a simplified form; many original elements like chants and salutes have been discarded over time. The black box, possibly made from parts of the original, symbolizes continuity, though its origins are forgotten, maintaining the ritual's core purpose of selecting a sacrificial victim.
Did the townspeople want to change the lottery tradition?
Why did the ancestors in "The Lottery" start the lottery?
The ancestors in "The Lottery" likely started the lottery as a superstitious ritual for agricultural success, believing a blood sacrifice would ensure a bountiful harvest, as hinted by Old Man Warner's saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon." However, the exact purpose has been forgotten, and the villagers now follow the tradition without understanding its original intent, highlighting the dangers of blindly adhering to tradition.
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