Symbols In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

In “The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson uses the symbol of the run down black box and Mr. Summer’s influential role in the society to emphasize how societies can get into harmful habits if they base their identity in traditions instead of morals . In the short story, the characters all participate in a lottery to determine who will be stoned that year. They all pull a piece of paper out of the black box, and the person with the mark on the paper is chosen. This box was the village’s strongest strongest tradition which represents the lottery; the defining aspect of this society. Even though it wasn’t in good condition, and “grew shabbier each year” and “was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood

color, and in some places faded or stained”, the villagers refused to replace it, because they felt it was important to the tradition.

Mr. Summers often spoke about replacing the box, but “no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box”(1). Similarly, Mr. Summers and his obligations represented the identity of the village. Mr. Summers was in charge of much of the activities ingrained in the village’s history, including “the square dances, the teen club, [and] the Halloween program” (1). Mr. Summers is also in charge of the lottery. That was part of how the community identified themselves. They associated the lottery with who they were, and felt like if they lose the lottery, they give up who they are as a community. The symbolism with the box represents the society, weak and worn out, but too scared to end tradition, even if it is faulty, because they don’t only use the box as a tradition, but they use the box as a vital role in their identity. That is also how their society is structured. Their practices were unnecessary and harmful to their village, yet they feared what they would be without the lottery. Similarly, Mr. Summers and the activities he administrates represent the identity of the village. The dances and social gatherings represent their community, as well as the lottery. They see the lottery as crucial to their existence, prosperity,

and their identity. If they stopped the lottery, how could they trust they wouldn’t stop the feasts and parties? Who would they be without these things? When societies create an identity for themselves based an event or object instead of a philosophy driven by their morals, they can lose sight of who they are, and replace it with what they are. If a group of people is characterized by such event, it weakens them, getting them stuck in the present state of their existence, unable to evolve or grow. On the other hand, if a society is rooted in beliefs, they can become better, by better living up to who they strive to be. Limiting one’s identity to an event gives no reason for improvement or a better system, stunting the prosperity and well being of the community. Even though it is most beneficial for a society to be based in morals, it is also harder. It comes with fluidity, instead of a repetitive structure it is too easy to find comfort in. It is more difficult to constantly improve based on what you believe in than it is to remain stagnant, doing what you're told, even if the habit is destructive and inhumane.