Peer Pressure In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

Superstition has been the basis of many of the traditions that most cultures have in today’s society. Additionally, peer pressure is still alive and well no matter the age group. Both of these factors are seen in action in the story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Jackson takes the reader on a small journey that helps explore the ways of superstition. as well as the effects of peer pressure in a small town. The lottery takes place every year, and continues to be carried out even though it is a cruel tradition because of the superstition that the small town has over their crops and the correlation to the lottery being successful. This is not the only action that is seen but, at the same time the power of peer pressure is demonstrated in ways

By identifying the time and region of the setting in the story the impact that superstition has can be established into making a tradition, it can be seen how the lack of education makes it easier to use superstition as an explanation and even an excuse, and lastly the third part can be seen by watching the influence that peer pressure and group decisions have not just on young people but on a system that affects all. Research has demonstrated a large correlation between the existence of superstition and the traditions that are continues in the modern time as well as the connection between peer pressure and group decisions. Keeping this in mind, it brings more ease in discovering the systems that are in action in today’s world, as well as in The

In a psychological way it is pressure from the time that kids make friends to all the way to adults in the workforce or in relationships. During discussions in small towns, peer pressure is seen even more often at the time of voting for certain things. In small towns, everyone is expected to act a certain way that compliments the others, if not be the same way as the majority of the town. That means that sons are expected to be like their fathers in ways, and fathers are expected to teach their sons how to be and think like the rest of the small town (Steinberg, 1987). In affecting education, small towns have been shown to have a lower sense of knowledge on more advanced topics such as technology, science, astronomy (Pearson, 2002). In The Lottery, small town peer pressure to make decisions that do not go against tradition and is similar to everyone is very noticeable; this group mentality is what leads to the drawing being able to happen without a second thought in the minds of others. Having young ones participate in an activity like this from such young age allows them to be familiarized with it and find it to be a new