Another theme in “The Lottery” is that civilization and violence are not mutually exclusive. Against the backdrop of a seemingly-peaceful town, the brutal killing of Tessie Hutchinson stands out as an especially violent act. But for the characters in the story, it is little more than an annual tradition. The apathetic approach that the villagers take towards Tessie’s killing highlights the fallacy of thinking that civilization prevents violence. Jackson uses this contrast between the peaceful village and the violent death to suggest that systemic violence is perpetrated within civilization.

“The Lottery” was published in 1948. In the wake of World War II, most Americans associated violence with external threats, such as Nazi Germany or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. American nationalism was on the rise as the country came together against a perceived external threat. “The Lottery” challenges that narrative by crafting a story where there is no direct villain or antagonist. Mr. Summers, the lottery officiant, is not a menacing villain. He wears blue jeans and is described as “round-faced” and “jovial.” There is no single person to blame for Tessie’s death. Instead, a commonly accepted social custom leads a town of otherwise ordinary people to kill an innocent woman.

This theme of civilization begetting violence is further explored through the characters of Mrs. Delacroix and Bobby Martin. Mrs. Delacroix is the first to greet Tessie in the square. Mrs. Delacroix reassures her that the lottery has not yet begun. Based on this interaction, the two women appear to be friends. However, after Tessie is chosen as the lottery winner, Mrs. Delacroix picks up a stone so large that she needs “both hands” to lift it. She also encourages the other townsfolk to “hurry up” with the stoning. Once Tessie is chosen, Mrs. Delacroix’s apparent civility vanishes, and she readily joins in the killing of Tessie. The lottery is a form of state-sanctioned violence, so the villagers do not consider it murder. Mrs. Delacroix’s easy acceptance of Tessie’s death suggests that even the most civilized people will happily commit violent acts if they are sanctioned by society.

Bobby Martin and the other village children show how societal indoctrination perpetuates systemic violence. For the village children, the lottery is akin to a festival. They arrive early to the square and gather the pile of stones that will later be used to kill someone. Furthermore, children are also eligible to win the lottery. Before they have time to develop their own ideals or morals, the children are taught that “there’s always been a lottery” by their elders. This lifelong exposure makes them less likely to question the practice. Instead, they will accept it as a fact of life, just as their elders did. This creates a cycle of violence that is perpetuated by each generation. However, the Adams family offers a glimpse of hope: other towns have begun to reject the lottery. This suggests that though progress is slow, it will eventually prevail.