She began to argue the way the tradition was handled by Mr. Summers and the rest of the villagers when it was her family’s name that was drawn from the box. Showing how quickly and easily someone can be willing to go against tradition given a certain situation. “Tessie Hutchinson Shouted to Mr. Summers, you didn’t give him enough time to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair (8)”.
Kenley Duke D.E. English Professor Walker October 9th 2012 Analyzing Literature: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson Tradition, defined my Webster’s Dictionary, is an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior. Not once does it say that tradition is meant to have good intentions. Such is the case in the “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. The villagers in this town gather annually to conduct what they refer to as “the lottery.” This gruesome event selects one of the town members to meet their untimely death by the mid-evil process of stoning.
The black box which is the appliance to put the lottery tickets in was old and dilapidated. “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.” They are not think the ceremony will really help with their crops, the only importance with this ceremony are hurt and kill the people in their village. I felt pity for these people. They are so savage, wild, woolly and uncivilized. They never try to stop the killing and hurting even they know that may have themselves killed on the sacrifice.
When Evyn first saw Eleni, with her red lipstick, black pants, and high heels, she thought Eleni looked nothing like a college professor and a mother. Evyn made the assumption that she went partying every night. That is an example of her being judgemental. After her father, Birdie, reminded Evyn that her new combination lock was 5, 10, 15; she forgot, making her forgetful. An example of Evyn being unintelligent was when her so-called friends, Andrea’s group, calls her Evelyn and doesn’t talk to her unless it’s to ask about updates with Ajax, she doesn’t realize that they’re just using her.
By showing up late and forgetting the date of the lottery, it seems as though Mrs. Hutchinson is unconcerned with the lottery and the reader gets the false impression that this event is not such a huge ordeal. In fact, Tess doesn’t even express any problems with the lottery until her family is chosen. Ironically, when she is the one picked to get sacrificed she screams, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (Jackson 393). By initially conforming to a negative aspect of society without question then deciding to speak out when her own well being is in jeopardy, Tess displays a hypocritical and selfish character
The argument starts when the family starts getting deeper in debt due to a dry spell in Evelyn’s winnings. During the fight, Evelyn scolds Kelly about drinking. “The contest wins can’t replace the money you make from working, Dad.” This comment angers Kelly, saying that Evelyn has no right to judge him because the only thing she does all day is clean and write in her “stupid notebooks” (168). Evelyn shoots back saying that without her contest winnings, they’d be in debtor’s prison. This comment further angers Kelly, and he, being drunk enough to not realize his own strength or actually register what he is doing, pushes Evelyn in a fit of anger.
The girl in Araby is sad because she is not able to go to a festival that she wants to go to, where as ‘Queenie’ is sad because she has been scolded in front of everyone by the manager of the market. The boys finally have found something to fight for and feel themselves as their saviors. The boy in “Araby” feels like it is his duty and responsibility to make the girl happy. ‘‘I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes.’’(881) In the same way, Sammy in “A&P” quits his job, thinking he is now the girl’s hero, who stood up against his boss to save her from the embarrassment. ‘‘So I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected
Her father comes home late at night or gets lost and doesn’t come at all because of his drinking obsession. Her dad is regretful and is always promising change, but Sam can see through his hollow phony heart. Her mother repeatedly keeps believing her father and makes excuses for him, but Sam learns these words mean nothing and isolates herself from her father even more. She is constantly trying to protect her little brother named Luke from her dad because he doesn’t apprehend what is going on. She wants to reveal these secrets to someone, but she can’t tell her friends because she assumes that they will criticize her.
She cannot get over the fact of someone in her family having to die. Tessie Hutchinson shouted, 'You didn't give him enough time to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair.’ At this point in the story, Tessie is acting selfish and coming off as unfair to the other townspeople. She has not taken the ritual of the town well; she doesn't understand the seriousness the town has for this event.
Shirley Jackson was the author of “The Lottery” and she showed death by community. Once a year the townspeople gathered together and took a piece of paper from a black box. The first round of the drawing is just for the head of the family. Whichever man has the dotted paper then it is on to everyone in that family taking a draw. Now whoever has drew the paper with the dot on it is the one who gets stoned to death by the townspeople.