Tradition by Obligation
Uploaded by stephaniebrooke1 on Jul 26, 2006
“The Lottery”, written by Shirley Jackson, is a short story set around early 20th century in a small American village. Throughout the entire story Jackson plays psychological games with the readers mind. Jackson leaves clues and symbols all through the story; however, it could be easy for a reader to not fully understand the meaning until the end. This town is very traditional and set in their ways. Every year there is a ritual they call a lottery. The word “lottery” portrays positive thoughts to an everyday reader. However, the town’s people do not see the lottery as a positive thing. Although, it is something they have done and probably will do for years to come, they are beginning to realize “‘It’s not the way it used to be,’ said old man Warner…” (Jackson 249). They hold a lottery once every year in June. The winner of the lottery is not really a winner at all; the person in the town who draws the marked paper is stoned. Originally, the town’s people truly believed they were casting their sins on the “winner”. Once their sins were “dead,” the crops would be fertile. Old man Warner quoted to a younger man an old saying, “‘Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon’” (Jackson 248), he passing down the tradition by explaining why their ancestors performed the ritual. Regardless of tradition this ritual is wrong. It is wrong for the reason of, the towns’ people do not completely understand what they are doing, they are “playing God,” and murdering innocent people.
Tradition is often held by obligation. Like the black box, that holds the marked paper, the tradition is fading. The town’s people do not seem to completely understand why they are holding this tradition. The story explains that the town’s people forget certain aspects of the ritual and lost the original box. However, they do not forget the stones (249). Reason being, they hold the lottery because of what they know, and what they know is what they have been told. If sins are cast out on one person and stone them, the crops will be fertile, as it is said, “‘Lottery in June, Corn be heavy soon’”
(248). However, things are changing and the town’s people realize that, but are trying not to change. This is shown by Mr. Summers rushing the ritual as he says, “‘let’s finish quickly’” (Jackson...