The Power Dynamics of Tradition in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" has been a subject of intense scrutiny and analysis since its publication in 1948, captivating readers with its exploration of tradition, power dynamics, and societal conformity. This essay delves into the complexities of Jackson's narrative, aiming to unravel the ways in which tradition shapes the characters' actions and beliefs, and the consequences of blind adherence to societal norms. "The Lottery" has sparked diverse interpretations and critical discussions within the literary community. Scholars have meticulously examined Jackson's use of symbolism, narrative techniques, and thematic concerns to unearth the story's deeper meanings. At its core, "The Lottery" challenges readers to …show more content…
Jackson's narrative serves as a poignant critique of blind conformity and urges readers to question established norms in the pursuit of greater autonomy and moral clarity. This analysis draws upon sociological, psychological, and feminist perspectives to contextualize "The Lottery" within broader theoretical frameworks. By examining the story through multiple lenses, we gain insight into the complexities of tradition and its impact on human behavior, shedding light on the intricate power dynamics at play within the narrative. Jackson portrays the lottery as a deeply ingrained tradition that dictates the townspeople's actions and beliefs. The annual ritual serves as a mechanism of social control, reinforcing the status quo and perpetuating violence. In "The Lottery," tradition exerts a profound influence over the townspeople, shaping their beliefs and governing their behavior. The black box, described as "shabbier each year," serves as a potent symbol of tradition's decay and the town's unwavering commitment to its rituals (Jackson). Despite its deteriorating condition, the box remains sacrosanct, embodying the
Tradition is a central theme in Shirley Jackon's short story The Lottery. Images such as the black box and characters such as Old Man Warner, Mrs. Adams, and Mrs. Hutchinson display to the reader not only the tenacity with which the townspeople cling to the tradition of the lottery, but also the wavering support of it by others. In just a few pages, Jackson manages to examine the sometimes long forgotten purpose of rituals, as well as the inevitable questioning of the necessity for such customs.
Shirley Jackson wrote many books in her life, but she was well known by people for her story “The Lottery” (Hicks). “The Lottery” was published on June 28, 1948, in the New Yorker magazine (Schilb). The story sets in the morning of June 27th in a small town. The townspeople gather in the square to conduct their annual tradition, the Lottery. The winner of the lottery will stoned to death by the society. Although there is no main character in the story, the story develops within other important elements. There are some important elements of the story that develop the theme of the story: narrator and its point of view, symbolism, and main conflict. The story “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, argues practicing a tradition without understanding the meaning of the practice is meaningless and dangerous.
One main theme in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is tradition nonetheless. Although tradition is most commonly thought to be somewhat of a social glue that holds families and communities together, Shirley Jackson reveals a whole new side consisting of the dangers following traditional practices. The lottery is normalized as being an early summer ritual that proves to be consistent and promising in a plentiful harvest, as mentioned by Old Man Warner. The real purpose of the lottery is never fully explained, but it is still conducted every year without suggestion of discontinuation. There proves to be a pattern of tendency to be trapped by tradition.
Shirley Jackson?s insights and observations about society are reflected in her shocking and disturbing short story The Lottery. Jackson reveals two general attitudes in this story: first is the shocking tendency for societies to select a scapegoat and second is the idea that communities are victims of social tradition and rituals.
“ The Lottery”, written by Shirley Jackson, shows the corruption in a village whose people treat life with insignificance. Through the use of literary devices, Jackson portrays how practices in traditions can be barbaric;ultimately, resulting in persecution.
To a first time reader, Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery” seems simply as a curious tale with a shocking ending. After repetitive reading of Jackson's tale, it is clear that each sentence is written with a unique purpose often using symbolism. Her use of symbols not only foreshadow its surprise and disturbing ending but allows the reader to evaluate the community's pervert traditional rituals. She may be commenting on the season of the year and the grass being “richly green” or the toying with the meanings of the character's names but each statement applies to the meaning and lesson behind her story.
Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. 5th ed. Ed. Laurence Perrine. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, Publishers 1998. 180-186
The Lottery is an amazing work of fiction not only because of its extraordinary twist on the concept of tradition, but for its classic irony and impeccable use of symbolism. The Lottery questions whether or not tradition should be respected for what it is or evolve to suit new generations. When asked the purpose of writing The Lottery, Shirley Jackson responded that the story was "to shock the story's readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives." (237) Jackson was a true visionary as a female author who created a thought provoking and alarming story to readers in a time when tradition was still heavily weighted in society.
Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" presents conflict on more than one level. The most important conflict in the story is between the subject matter and the way the story is told. From the beginning Jackson takes great pains to present her short story as a folksy piece of Americana. Slowly it dawns on us, the terrible outcome of what she describes.
When initially reading Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” focusing on aspects of themes and ideas is difficult, as the apparently seamless shift from ordinary socialization to death is highly outrageous. However, after multiple readings, Jackson’s messages become more apparent, with her prominent theme tackling societal norms. Growing up Catholic, attending parochial school until sixth grade, and regularly attending church creates a tendency for me to follow tradition and rituals, without question. Yet, Jackson’s story directly challenges the ethics of this behavior as she criticizes how society functions, blindly maintaining the status quo simply because that is how it has “always been” (246), regardless of its morality or relevance in the modern world. Even
As the story of “The Lottery” comes to an end, readers are left with a shocking reaction. Shirley Jackson’s Characters continuously participate in a lottery, where the reasoning for it has been forgotten. Throughout Shirley Jacksons Story of “The Lottery” readers can see how conformity can bring out the evilness in human nature, by characters continuing a tradition regardless of immorality.
The short story “ The Lottery ” the author Shirley Jackson uses symbolism and imagery to develop a theme the brings forth the evil and inhumane nature of tradition and the danger of when it’s carried out with ignorance.
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson has been criticized, but its longevity and durability prove it stands the test of time. In the article, “Jackson’s The Lottery,” the author A.R. Coulthard finds a deeper meaning in the story which other critics have not. Coulthard believes the story is a “parable of the evil inherent in human nature” rather than “an assault on mindless cultural conformity,” as other critics have suggested (Coulthard 226). Coulthard shows how something that most likely began as a primitive and ignorant way to ensure prosperity, evolved into a complete need for sanctioned violence and murder. Coulthard offers valid points to support her argument.
Shirley Jackson tells a story about the rules of society and how it affects the communities' lives. In a small, ordinary town, there is a tradition called the ‘Lottery,’ which helps the community determine the bad things that must be taken care of. Tessie Hutchinson is the winner of the lottery, she will fight and tell her it's not necessary and it is very unfair and pointless. The community doesn't side with Tessir, so they proceed to stone her to death, leaving her kids motherless. ‘The Lottery’ Essay
Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery” shows the power of tradition and how it can normalize something that shouldn’t be normalized. Jackson uses items and characters to give a deeper meaning to the story. She uses items like the black box mentioned in the story, as well as characters like Old Man Warner and the tragic fate of Tessie Hutchinson. This analysis will go into how Jackson uses these elements to show the normalization of the lottery in the village. Compare other critics like Helen E. Nebeker and