The Big Events In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

The Big Event

In the story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson manages to catch the reader’s attention by the title, but shockingly reveals the true meaning of it with an unexpected ending. Jackson uses symbolism throughout the story to help her find ways to make the reader analyze how suspicious the characters’ are. The readers will observe the symbols of the people who attended the lottery, black box, and stones and how each is used for symbolic purposes.

It starts off as a seemingly innocent day for the people in the village, and it is very important for them to show up for the event. In the beginning, the reader assumes the event is about someone winning money, and everyone wants to participate when money is involved. In order for Jackson

to conceal her point of view, she uses the title to catch the reader off guard and confuse his or her to set up the mysterious conflict. According to Laurence Mazzeno, “[T]he description of . . . physical setting is direct and, when viewed in retrospect, contributes directly to the macabre climax toward which the story moves” (par. 11). The first symbol is the townspeople, who participates in the lottery, because the people represent their ideas, behavior, and actions to manipulate brutality amongst others. In the villagers outlook, the lottery is a perfect example of what can happen when outdated traditions are not critically addressed but followed simply for the sake of tradition.
The black box serves as a reminder of the town’s history and tradition.

The narrator informs the reader how the townspeople want to keep the lottery going because it traditionally comes from their ancestors. This black wooden box is old, worn, and faded, but Mr. Summers, one of the characters, talks about making a new one, but the villagers say, “[N]o one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box” (420). Evidently, the color of the box associates darkness and evil, which indicates the universal symbol of death. Sadly, whoever’s name comes out of it awaits a death sentence immediately. The box represents how powerful, and fearful it brings among others because the people are reluctant to change that

tradition.
The most important symbol the reader questions are the stones.

The story opens with a scene of small children gathering stones. As the story progresses, the reader becomes aware that the kids are gathering stones to stone an innocent person to death. It acts as a representation of death, which associates with human violence. One of the characters named Tessie, the winner of the lottery, arrives late for the occasion, but with enthusiasm, she is completely willing to protest each year. The reason Tessie’s behind schedule, she mentions, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink now, would you, Joe?” (421). Unfortunately, she has no idea that she is the victim. At one point, Tessie tries to include her daughter even though she draws with her dad, Tessie yells, “There’s Don and Eva . . . Make them take their chance” (423). This shows the reader how careless Tessie is about her family because she knows it will give her more of a chance to live. By the end story, she rebels against the selection as she screams, “It isn’t fair” (425). Sadly, the people, including her family descend her with no

mercy.
In this short story, the reader paints a picture of the town where “flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green,” but it turns into a bloody mess (419). Jackson gives specific details about the sacrifice people have to make each year in the small town. The villagers sense it is wrong to kill Tessie but those are the rules they have to accept. If someone rebukes the misconception of the lottery maybe the villagers will change otherwise, the townspeople will continuously kill others in the village. On the other hand, the lottery must simply be done.