The Lottery

Cultural:

“Ritual is important to us as human beings. It ties us to our tradition and our

histories,” (Miller Williams). This story is shaped by the tradition in the culture. The short
story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, is about a small village consisting of three hundred
people, who have a routine of a raffle called ‘the lottery’. Stones are gathered by the
children, and the adults in the community gather together for this event that happens on
June 27th. The Lottery has a cultural connection with the village because it’s a tradition
that continues to happen each year and no one will know when it ends. Not knowing when
it started or when it will end is what keeps the tradition alive and no one dares to revolt
against it. “The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post
office and the bank, around ten o’clock.” This shows that the lottery is a very specific ritual
event that happens to the people at the beginning of the summer and shows a tried and
true process. “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the
black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner,
the oldest man in town, was born. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about
making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented
by the black box.” No one knows when the tradition started and no one has the courage to
end it. The lottery makes society think and question their rituals and traditions we follow
ourselves. The paper represents how some families are lucky but others aren’t, and its
disheartening how the rich and poor can be caught up in the game of chance.

Reader Response:

Humans need a sense of routine or ritual. It keeps them sane and keeps them
wondering. The story of the lottery describes how the lives of three hundred villagers are
shaped through this established raffle. Each family and household is drawn in this raffle
and at the end, one member of one family will be gone forever. The reader experiences an
emotional journey while reading this short story because of all the realism that goes along
with it. It makes the reader question their rituals and traditions. “‘There goes my old man.’
Mrs. Delacroix said. She held her breath while her husband went forward.” Mrs. Delacroix
experiences this horror that her and her family will be chosen. “And someone gave little
Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles.” This quote shows that the lottery forces family members
to turn against their families. These ideas scares the reader because there are situations
in real life that have these elements. Staying true to yourself and your family, and trusting
what you believe in is crucial in creating a better and improved society.