Literary Elements In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is a complex and thought provoking tale that stirs emotions in nearly all readers. The story takes readers on an intellectual journey that begins firmly in realism but takes a turn into dark surrealism. ”The Lottery” should continue to be taught because of its brilliant use of literary elements and timeless parable-like story structure.

Jackson’s keen use of foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism creates a story that is able to stir debates and force readers to think for themselves. The story’s idyllic summer setting creates a carefree atmosphere full of life, providing the reader with a false sense of happiness and security while also serving as a foil to the dark clues sprinkled throughout the rest of the story. By having the boys create “a great pile of stones in one corner of the Square” prior to the drawing, and having the adults appear subdue and apprehensive while standing “away from the pile of

stones in the corner”, Jackson is foreshadowing the less than innocent purpose of the stones (2-3). Having the villagers keep their distance from the black box and hesitating to help Mr. Summers with the black box, suggest that this is a lottery you may not want to win while the color black is used as a symbol of death and darkness providing another element foreshadowing the dark outcome of the lottery. Without this foreshadowing, the end of the story feels more like a blind side rather than a brilliant twist. The names of some of characters are symbolic, adding another element to the story. Mr. Graves’ name represents death, darkness and sadness. Conversely, Mr. Summers’ name symbolizes life, happiness and light, which is ironic because he is in charge of the lottery that will lead to someone being stoned. Mr. Adams, the first to draw in the lottery, is a biblical reference symbolic of the first man and the first sin. A French surname meaning “of the cross”, Delacroix is used as a reference to the cross of Christianity and more specifically to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. By pointing out that the villager’s mispronounce the name as “Dellacroy”, Jackson is showing that the villager’s don’t recognize the cross or Jesus’ sacrifice. The deftly combined literary elements of this story make it an important piece of literature that should continue to have a place in college curriculums.
Additionally, if “The Lottery” is read as a traditional narrative, the reader may label the flatly drawn characters, unrevealing dialogue, and surprise ending as unbelievable and contrived.

However, I find those elements of the story to be consistent with the structure and style used in many Old and New Testament parables. It was Jackson's intention to avoid specific meaning, allowing her to address a variety of timeless issues with her parable-like structure. This is not an easy story to understand because it leaves so many unanswered questions such as: Why does the lottery exist? Is the “winner” merely stoned or stoned to death? This forces the reader to think carefully about the story and reach their own conclusions. "The Lottery" is a modern-day fable addressing a variety of themes, including the danger of blindly following tradition and the dark side of human nature. This story demands a reaction from its readers and usually gets one, which is why this story must continue to be studied in college English

courses.
A masterwork of dystopian fiction whose influence can be felt in many other stories in this genre, “The Lottery” should not be considered anything less than a classic. “The Lottery” is a cutting commentary on the dangers of blind obedience that is as relevant today as it was in post-World War II America. The continued teaching of this story is in the best interest of students, as it challenges them to think for themselves and dig beneath the surface to discover the true meaning behind the symbols Jackson artfully scatters throughout the tale.