The time period the event occurs in is not stated either, signifying that such cruel acts can take place at any time. The author uses symbolism throughout the story but the three most prominent uses of symbolism can be seen in the lottery, the black box used to choose the winner, and the most predominant use of symbolism, the characters actions and names. The lottery is symbolic of the corrupt nature of humans regarding pointless and inhumane traditions. It expresses the evil behind traditions and man’s unrelenting refusal to accept change. The lottery occurs on a warm summer day in a traditional small town in the same town square where the community gathers for all events.
To me, “The Lottery” sounds like that something good is being given away. However, that is not the case in the story. This small village has a very controversial tradition. The town gathering all the villagers together, then Mr. Summer draws slips of paper with black dot out of a black box. It is such an exciting thing to wait for the biggest prize to be announced who gets it.
When one thinks of summer one generally thinks of pleasantness and happiness. His name is ironic because his job is essentially in contrast to these thoughts. He is in charge of the random stoning. It is also ironic that when old man warner hears that the north village is considering ending the lottery he says “next thing you know they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves.” The lottery is as brutal and inhuman a ritual as any practiced by cavemen. Finally we learn that Mrs. Hutchinson will be the one selected to
Below is a free essay on "Mood of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson" from Anti Essays, your source for free research papers, essays, and term paper examples. Mood of “The Lottery” In “The Lottery”, author Shirley Jackson creates different moods by portraying many feelings that lead to foreshadowing and anticipation. Throughout the story, Shirley Jackson creates a journey of different moods and feelings that help process and think ahead and predict what events will take place. In “The Lottery”, a whole town of people gathers for an annual lottery but, this “lottery” isn’t what it seems it is. This particular lottery actually has intentions of hurting people and taking their lives.
The lottery is an annual event that has been around for over seventy-seven years and it is practiced by every member of the town but has one single winner. The head of each family draws a small piece of paper from a black box which is kept in a specific place and locked up so nobody can get into it. A slip with a black spot on indicates that the family has been chosen.
In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery,” Jackson displays the fear of the lottery in the villagers by using symbolism, word choice, and sentence structure. Symbolism [Mr. Summers and Mr. Adams] grinned at one another humorlessly and nervously. Then Mr. Adams reached into the black box and took out a folded paper. He held it firmly by one corner as he turned and went hastily back to his place in the crowd. Where he stood a little apart from his family.
He also taught them a salute that said "Strength through discipline, Strength through community, Strength through action!" The students just think it's an activity, they don't know that Mr. Ross is brainwashing them. The Characters in "The Lottery," Tessie Hutching son which is one of the main characters, and is the scapegoat to. Other characters are Bill, Old Man Warner, the kids and Mr. Summer. When the names were being drawn from the box, Tessie was the one who got the card with the black dot on
Citera Propst Jon-Paul Wimer Introduction to Fiction November 2, 2011 The Lottery The Lottery, written in 1948 by Shirley Jackson, is a short story about a small village that holds an annual drawing of the lottery. To most the lottery is perceived as positive if won. In Jackson’s story the winner of the lottery is stoned to death as a sacrifice a good season of crops. The winner of the lottery is more than likely the rest of the village, and the loser being the one who was sacrificed. The Lottery can have multiple themes, but an interesting theme to focus and analyze would be tradition.
The event of the lottery is a symbol of death. To most people, the lottery means a prize of winning, a representation of something good to come. As the story unfolds, the reader has no idea that the lottery means something so contrasting. “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full- summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” The imagery that Jackson presents is ironic due to the horrific ending. The lottery is a reaper of some sort that every year, claims the life of an innocent soul.
The whole story was very suspenseful and rather dramatic. I also thought the story’s ending was absolutely horrible and inhumane. The story was about a small village and the town’s annual lottery. The word lottery nowadays makes you think positive things for the winner usually resulting in large amounts