Literary Analysis of "The Lottery"

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We do not really ever wonder about some of the things that our grandparents and parents have taught us, but most likely, those things are traditions. Traditions are passed down from generation to generation and we never think twice about the traditions that we take part in. We do not know why we make up stories about a man who falls down your chimney every year, or a bunny that leaves eggs around the house. We take part in these traditions because we always have, and we do not have any reasons why not to. “The Lottery” is a great example of how people react to traditions. Shirley Jackson reveals in “The Lottery” that many people can be afraid to break the traditions that we have, no matter how bad they are, using indirect characterization, symbolism, and situational irony.
The reader can infer through Jackson's indirect characterization that some of the villagers are becoming unhappy with the inveterate lottery, and some do not seem to mind it. The villagers appear to be too afraid to do anything about it. “'There's always been a lottery,' he added petulantly. 'Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody.'” (Jackson 2). Here, Old Man Warner is responding to the fact the other towns are getting rid of the lottery. Old Man Warner does not say why the lottery is to go on, but his only argument is that there has always been a lottery. None of the villagers are able to establish an argument on why the lottery needs to come to a cessation. On the other hand, Mr. Summers, who conducts the lottery, does not seem bothered by the lottery. Mr. Summers has to do all of the work behind the lottery. He has to make up the lists of the villagers, get sworn in as the official, and conduct the lottery. Even t...

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...the rocks are thrown at the person who was chosen in the lottery, which was Mrs. Hutchinson. (Jackson 7).
In conclusion, traditions can be beneficial, or they can be hurtful. The tradition of the lottery may not be the best, however, it has happened many times before and traditions are difficult to let go. In “The Lottery”, the reader is able to see how the villagers feel about the lottery through indirect characterization. Also, Jackson uses symbolism to reveal that the villagers do not want to change anything about the lottery. Finally, situational irony takes a substantial role in how the reader understands the short story. Jackson's “The Lottery” represents the reactions of people when they know that a tradition is not worth keeping but they do not want to do anything about it.

Works Cited

Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”. Class Handout. 2013 Print.

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