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Exploring Themes in Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'

May 5, 2025

Lecture Notes: "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

Overview

  • Title: The Lottery
  • Author: Shirley Jackson
  • Setting: Village square, June 27th, sunny summer day
  • Population: About 300 villagers

Event Description

  • Annual lottery held in the village square.
  • Takes less than two hours, allowing villagers to return home for noon dinner.
  • Traditional event, deeply rooted in local customs.

Characters

  • Mr. Summers: Conducts the lottery, owns a coal business, jovial but childless.
  • Mr. Graves: Postmaster, helps Mr. Summers with the lottery.
  • Old Man Warner: Oldest man in town, staunch supporter of the lottery tradition.
  • Tessie Hutchinson: Arrives late, becomes central figure later.
  • Bill Hutchinson: Tessie's husband, draws for the family.
  • Dunbar Family: Mr. Dunbar absent due to a broken leg, Mrs. Dunbar draws.
  • Watson Family: Young Jack Watson draws for his family.

Lottery Process

  • Preparation:

    • Black box used, tradition lost but some elements like using stones remain.
    • Box kept in different places each year; slips of paper used instead of wood chips.
    • Lists prepared for heads of families and households.
  • Conducting the Lottery:

    • Heads of families draw slips of paper from the black box.
    • Mr. Summers calls names, people draw papers but do not open them immediately.
    • Once all have drawn, they open papers simultaneously.

Outcome

  • Hutchinson Family Draws Black Spot:

    • Bill Hutchinson draws the marked paper for his family.
    • Tessie Hutchinson protests the fairness of the draw.
    • Hutchinson family members each draw again.
  • Tessie Hutchinson Marked:

    • Tessie draws the marked slip, designating her as the "winner."
    • Villagers, including her family, proceed to stone her as part of the ritual.
    • Tessie protests the fairness repeatedly, ending with her being stoned.

Themes

  • Tradition vs. Change:

    • The lottery is an unquestioned tradition, despite its brutality.
    • Some talk of abandoning it, but traditionalists like Old Man Warner resist change.
  • Social Dynamics and Conformity:

    • Villagers conform to the ritual despite personal relationships.
    • Highlights the power of social pressure and blind adherence to tradition.
  • Human Nature:

    • The story depicts the dark side of human nature when individuals follow tradition without questioning morality.

Critical Analysis

  • Symbolism:

    • The Black Box: Represents tradition, decay, and the unchangeable nature of the lottery.
    • Stones: Symbolize the collective violence and participation of the community.
  • Irony:

    • The sunny, beautiful day contrasts with the horrific event.
    • The term "lottery" usually implies winning something positive, contrasting sharply with the outcome.

Conclusion

  • "The Lottery" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of blindly following tradition and the capacity for violence within ordinary people.