Lecture Notes on "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

Setting and Atmosphere

• Date and Weather: June 27th, clear and sunny summer day.
• Location: A small village, population around 300.
• Atmosphere: Initially described as peaceful and typical, with villagers gathering for a traditional event.

Gathering for the Lottery

• Children: First to gather, exhibit restlessness, play with stones.
• Adults: Men discuss farming and taxes; women gossip.
• Sign of Tradition: Assembled stones hint at something ominous.

Conducting the Lottery

• Leader: Mr. Summers, jovial, manages civic activities.
• The Black Box: A symbol of tradition, old and worn, believed to contain pieces of the original box.
• Procedure: Mr. Summers stirs papers in the box; slips of paper replace wood chips due to the village's growth.

Preserving Tradition

• Rituals Forgotten: Many original rituals and recitations lost over time.
• Reluctance to Change: Villagers resist altering the process or replacing the box.

The Drawing

• Participation: Heads of families draw slips of paper.
• Hutchinson Family: Tessie is notable for arriving late and forgetting the lottery day.
• Process: Each family member draws, maintains suspense.

The Outcome

• Tessie Hutchinson: Draws the slip with a black spot, marking her as the "winner."
• Reaction: Tessie protests the fairness of the draw.
• Climax: Villagers, including children, stone Tessie, maintaining the brutal tradition.

Themes and Symbols

• Irony: The term "lottery" typically indicates a positive outcome, contrasted by the story's dark twist.
• Black Box: Represents tradition; worn and battered, indicating long-standing practices.
• Social Critique: Commentary on blind adherence to outdated traditions.

Discussion Points

1. Surprise Ending: The story's normal beginning belies its violent conclusion.
2. Setting Influence: A seemingly ordinary village enhances shock.
3. Character Differentiation: Tessie's nonchalance and protest highlight her as different, leading to her selection.
4. Irony: The title and the pleasant opening contrast sharply with the story's brutal end.
5. Symbols: The black box and black spot symbolize unyielding tradition and fate.
6. Author's Attitude: Clearly opposed to the senseless tradition, indicated by the story's grim conclusion.
7. Satire: Critiques societal reluctance to abandon antiquated customs, possibly reflecting post-WWII sentiment.
8. Historical Context: Likely satirizing the adherence to harmful societal norms and practices post-WWII.