The Lottery A.K.A my NEW Literature Text

The Lottery is a book about a Lottery. Duh. It is also my new Literature text. What is so interesting about the Lottery then? Well, actually, the ending is. For you to fully understand what I really mean, a brief summary is needed.

Summary


Every year, on June 27th, a Lottery is held. The village people would gather at the square at the appointed time, in this case 10a.m, and wait in anticipation for the Lottery to begin. The Lottery was conducted by a certain Mr Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.

At 10a.m. sharp, Mr Summers entered the square carrying the black wooden box. Mr Graves, the village postmaster, followed him carrying a small wooden stool. The box was placed on the stool which was placed in the middle of the square. The original paraphernalia (equipment) was lost long ago and the black box used in its place. Mr Summers stirred though the slips of papers in the box as he went through a edited ritual required by tradition.

Just as the ritual was completed, Mrs Hutchinson hurriedly came along and slid into place beside her husband and children. After a brief attendance taking, it was discovered that Clyde Dunbar was missing as he had broken his leg. His wife filled in for him.

Mr Summers began reading out the names of the heads of houses, which were to each take a piece of paper from the box. They were to keep the paper hidden until everybody had one slip. The village people hardly listened to Mr Summers as they knew the words so well already. There even used to be a saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon".


When the pieces of paper were unfolded, It was discovered that Bill Hutchinson had got the slip of paper with a pencil marking on it. The Hutchison family, along with the 3 children, drew another slip of paper each. When these pieces of paper were unfolded, it was discovered that Mrs Hutchinson had the piece of paper with the mark on it.

The villagers cleared a space around Mrs Hutchinson and stoned her to death.

Full story can be found at: http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lotry.html


Foreshadowing

There is evidence of foreshadowing in The Lottery.

”… that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 26th. But in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, … and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.” This quote implies that the lottery is an annual tradition that takes place every year. Just by reading this quote, you can tell that this paticular lottery has some significance rather than just an ordinary lottery. The quote also makes readers skeptical as the desciption “taking less than two hours” is not usually used to describe a happy occasion, which should be in a lottery. Also, “still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner” tells readers that something is not quite right because if it were a rewarding experience, the sentence would not have been worded as so.”The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool. And when Mr. Summers said, "Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?" there was a hesitation before two men. Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, came forward…” This shows that the villagers are questioning their actions at this annual event. It appears as if sudden skepticism is felt as the crowd hesitates once the black box is brought to the gathering; almost as if the box were the proclaimation of their deaths.

”There were the lists to make up--of heads of families, heads of households in each family, members of each household in each family.” This double-checking of names seems suspicious – who would want to dampen their chances of winning the lottery?

“”Watson” The tall boy came awkwardly through the crowd. Someone said, ‘Don’t be nervous, Jack,’” This quote again indicates danger. By comparing this quote with the previous quote about the villager’s hesitation, it reinforces this suggestion. Also, If someone is at a lottery, he or she should not be nervous, he or shee should be excited instead.
“’It isn't fair, it isn't right’”. The unquestionable quote. This final foreshadow show that the lottery is indeed related to some sort of tragedy, confirming earlier suspicions.

Symbolism

The Lottery makes use of many symbols

Black - Yes, the colour black. Black is a dark and evil colour, usually accosiated with death or disaster.

Pieces of Paper - Stange but true. The pieces of paper replacing the wooden chips are like the people's beliefs changing. People who once stood firm on the lottery are now like pieces of paper in the wind, unable to find their ground.

Names - The names, more specifically, of Mr Summers, Mr Graves and Mrs Hutchinson. People usually feel that Summer is cheerful and joyous time where the sun shines; everyone is happy. The most obvious name is Mr Graves. Graves are places where you bury people, so obviously people are going to die. Mrs Hutchinson is the most tricky one. I had to Google her name before I found out the significance behind it. In the early New England, Anne Hutchinson was known as someone who could stand up for herself, like Mrs Hutchinson.

Themes

Adhering to Tradition - When Mr Summers wanted to change the black box, "but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box ... the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done". This is like somebody like the government saying that tradition had to change, but the people of the country rejecting the very thought of it.

Use of Language

Irony - Shirley Jackson uses irony in The Lottery to show evil, hypocrisy and human weakness. "...and both beamed and laughed. turning around to the crowd and holding their slips of paper above their heads. " The children are only concerned about themselves. It might not register immediately in their heads that one of their parents are going to die, but that is the end result. The children should be more concerned about their parents, instead of being so self-centered. Another play on irony is that most of us today are dying to win the lottery. Get it? Dying. I don't know how to explain further.

Relevance to Today

Shirley Jackson is trying to express through The Lottery that today's society has a need to scapegoat people. It also tells us that even today, we are still chained to tradition and often do not have a reason as to why we do things traditionally. When asked why we do it, we just say that we have been doing it for many years, so let's just follow tradition. Futhermore, if you follow tradition without roots, we could just be accepting what the older generation tells us without question, even if it is morally or ethically incorrect.

In addition to that, if you take a literal view on the matter, The Lottery could be telling us that if we do not quit lotteries soon, they might eventually kill us. We could eventually also see lotteries as an integrated part of our lives; it may even become our tradition. When this happens, people will suffer.