The Theme Of Tradition In The Lottery, By Shirley Jackson

Winning the Lottery The lottery is perceived as a great gamble, with an enormous cash payout. Most who play the game don’t ever assume they will win. In Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery this is very much the case. Everyone plays the game but never assumes they will be the one winning the prize. That prize, as is tradition, is to be stoned to death. Jackson shows how hard it is to break traditions and go against the community, and that violence is in human nature. First, Jackson depicts a small country town with deep roots in their traditions. One such tradition, the lottery, had been going on a long time: “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

In a village community traditions go back for many, many years: “Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery,’ Old Man Warner said as he went through the crowd”(294). That lottery has gone on for more than seventy-seven years with this black box. However, this wasn’t even the first box! So this is ancient tradition that horrible ending each year but continues to survive. Most traditions have a reason and this one is no different. The reason the villagers do this every year is they believe it helps the corn crop grow quicker and better. Jackson shows this when she introduces the saying, ”Lottery in June, corn will be heavy soon”(294). Many old saying that go with traditions rhyme so the meaning of the tradition is not for gotten. Not knowing when the tradition even started and having a good reason makes it hard to get rid of. However, some of the villagers still have the guts to suggest doing so: “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.’ Old Man Warner snorted, ‘Pack of crazy fools,’ he 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”(294). Even with this undercurrent of some people wanting change the authority in the community,

From an early age children in both societies teach kids violence. In real life kids start playing violent sports like football at a very early age. In the Lottery the children are hoarding the stones and fighting each other to get them. Shirley Jackson shows this with foreshadowing when she writes, ”Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry and Dickie…eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against raids of the other boys”(290). This shows that they know what is happens and want to be a part of it. However, what is most surprising is that they are a part of it. When it finally comes to throw the stones they are the first ones ready to throw. Jackson’s foreshadowing finally comes to light when she states, “The pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready…the children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles”(296). This gives the disturbing description of even the smallest kid getting involved in the ritual. During this entire process nobody objects. The only objection happens from Tessie when she is chosen. This shows that the villagers don’t mind the process or even like it as long as they aren’t the one dying. This is very similar to how in the French Revolution tons of people will show up for