Religion In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, she focuses on the aspect of traditional rituals in a small town setting. Throughout this story, readers are able to view the difference from similar ceremonies today, and determine whether or not they are cruel and unusual compared to what they were like in previous centuries. “The Lottery” is about an individual who annually participates with his or her small town, and as the winner of the game each year, he or she will get sacrificed. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism throughout “The Lottery” to demonstrate humanity regarding tradition through objects, numbers, and character names.

The black box is the primary symbolic object of this short story. When the readers first come across the black box, it appears

as a type of untold mystery. “When he arrived in the square, carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the villagers” (Page 1). The color black by itself symbolizes death, destruction, and darkness. By continuing to read along, the readers are able to draw a conclusion that the black box has a connection with doom and destruction. With the black box itself being so worn down and falling apart, this shows how people do not like change to occur during their life time and want to continue on with what they already have. “Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking again about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done” (Page 1). Through this box, an individual’s life is determined by a slip of paper that he or she is able to draw from within it. The black box represents the annual traditional/ ritual sacrifice that takes place in this small town.
The name of the character, Delacroix, played a huge role throughout the story. The word delacroix means the cross. Mrs. Delacroix was a friend to Tessie Hutchinson, the individual chosen for the annual sacrifice through the lucky draw of the slip with the black dot, but at the end of the story, turns on their friendship by becoming a part of the group that would stone her to death. “Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands” (Page 6). A cross is associated with church which brings hope and comfort to those who believe. So, in using delacroix as a name, it gives off the wrong impression of the meaning. Instead of feeling comported, Tessie feels betrayed by her so called friend because of this annual traditional sacrifice that Mrs. Delacroix believes in.
Numbers also play a symbolic part in “The Lottery”.

The number three biblically represents the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Throughout the story, there were three different types of attitudes that people associated with the game lottery. First, people had a bit of indifference because they did not grow up any other way. “Pack of crazy fools," Old Man Warner said. "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while” (Page 4). Old Man Warner also was one of the individuals that looked forward to this traditional sacrifice each year. Second, others were concerned and started to question the tradition. “They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery” (Page 3). Lastly, some even were excited for the ceremony each year and thought it was fun. “They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed” (Page 1). All three types of emotions were different from one another. Individuals either wanted to continue on with the tradition they grew up being a part of or ridding the town of it

completely.