Research Paper On The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

Physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking once said, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” Individuals can oftentimes be reluctant to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices. This is because they are not open to the idea of change. Tradition gives people the illusion of permanence which creates an image in one’s mind that cannot be easily changed, thus resulting in many outdated and unreasonable traditions in today’s society. In the short story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson satirizes society's unwillingness to change through Old Man Warner’s actions and illogical thoughts
Society’s reluctance to change is emphasized by the characteristics and actions of Old Man Warner. For example, when the details of the lottery are being described, it is mentioned that

“The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born” (292). This emphasizes just how old Old Man Warner really is; he is accustomed to the tradition of the lottery. This relates greatly to society today in a way that the older one is the more likely they are to follow tradition. In addition, after Mr. Adams mentioned that over in the north village they’re talking of giving up the lottery, Old Man Warner snorts, “Pack of crazy fools. Listening to the young folks, nothings 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” (297). Old Man Warner reacts to the possibility of giving up the lottery very aggressively by asserting that those who want to get rid of it are “crazy fools.” He does not show any respect for their ideas and is in no means opposed to the idea of the lottery. Through Old Man Warners age and actions, Shirley Jackson satirizes society’s unwillingness to give up tradition.
However, opponents argue that Old Man Warner was neither irrational nor ignorant; he was just an old man that wanted to continue the customs he had always known.

For instance, right after Bill Hutchinson drew for his paper, Old Man Warner said, “It’s not the way it used to be. People ain’t the way they used to be” (300). Old Man Warner just wants it to be the same as it used to be. Oftentimes, tradition can bring back memories, both good and bad, and by keeping the tradition of the lottery, Old Man Warner has the privilege of having something that he has been able to rely on his entire life. In addition, when Mr. Adams brings up the possibility of the north village getting rid of the lottery, Old Man Warner asserts, “There’s always been a lottery. Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody” (297). It is hard for Old Man Warner to hear that the north village is thinking about giving up their lottery. However, this relates to all of society; sometimes the worst part of change is hearing it for the first time. Further proving that Old Man Warner was not illogical or unreasonable, he was just a man that wanted to continue what he had always

known.
Despite this, resistance to change tradition can also be seen through Old Man Warner’s irrational thoughts. For example, when Old Man Warner is fighting for the tradition of the lottery, he says, “Used to be a saying about ‘Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.’ First thing you know we’d all be eating stewed chicken and acorns” (297). This proves just how illogical Old Man Warner really is. The lottery has no relation whatsoever to the growth of crops. Additionally, right as the villagers moved in on Tessie Hutchinson to throw the stones, Old Man Warner says, “Come on, come on, everyone” (302). Old Man Warner is so brainwashed by the permanence of tradition that he is encouraging everyone to join in on the stoning of Mrs. Hutchinson. In this case, the ignorance of Old Man Warner could not be overcome; he was too blinded by the aspect of tradition that he could not see the true pain and terror he was inflicting.
Shirley Jackson criticizes society's inability to change through Old Man Warner's actions and thoughts. By making Old Man Warner sound illogical and unreasonable, Jackson is able to relate his characteristics to those who are unopen to change in today’s society. This matters because like Stephen Hawking once said, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change” and without change the world would be at a standstill.