Tradition for the Sake of Tradition: Male Circumcision and “the Lottery”

2051 Words9 Pages
Tradition For the Sake of Tradition: Male Circumcision and “The Lottery” “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, tells the story of a town’s drawing for who will be stoned to death. The author never gives a concrete reason for why this tradition was started, though it is implied that the whole ceremony is based on agricultural superstition when the character Old Man Warner states, “Used to be a saying about ‘Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.’” (Jackson 143; par. 32). At points in the story, the idea of discontinuing the tradition is even brought up, but the idea of discontinuation is nixed by Old Man Warner as a mistake made by a “Pack of crazy fools” (Jackson 143; par. 33). When given an option of two choices, it is often easier for people to choose the familiar, traditional route. Today, there is an issue based on tradition that is facing many Americans. That issue is the decision of whether or not to circumcise their male children. For some it is a religious tradition, and for others it is a family tradition. The irony of American acceptance of this practice is that most Americans are appalled by the ongoing enforcement of female genital mutilation in other nations such as Africa. No matter the reason for its use, male circumcision is genital mutilation that has not been proven to be medically nor universally religiously necessary. Tradition is the unjustified reason behind both “The Lottery” and male circumcision, which is why they both should be discontinued. Tradition for tradition’s sake was what propelled the townspeople forward in “The Lottery”. Jiddu Krishnamurti, an Indian philosopher, who believed that the key to breaking free from our societal bonds was through the awakening of intelligence, while mastering our fears, stated: Our minds live in tradition. The very meaning of that word – to hand denies intelligence. It is easy and

More about Tradition for the Sake of Tradition: Male Circumcision and “the Lottery”

Open Document