Understanding Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Literal Comprehension
On the morning of June 27 of a recent year, the 300 villagers of an American village prepare for the yearly lottery in a mood of excitement. The tradition of the lottery is so old that some of its ritual has been left behind and some has been reshaped. Its basic purpose is entirely forgotten, but residents are present to take part in it. The civic-minded Mr. Summers, having been sworn in, hands a piece of paper to the head of each family. When it is discovered the Hutchinson family has drawn the marked slip, each member of the family — Tessie, the children, and Bill — is given another slip. Silence prevails as suspense hovers over the proceedings. Despite helplessly protesting the injustice of the first drawing, Tessie finds she holds the marked slip. Set in a clear space, hopelessly afraid, she feels the first pebbles hitting her as people, holding stones, push forward. “And then they were upon her.” The winner is stoned to death by her fellow townsmen.
Interpretation of The Lottery
The fundamental theme of Shirley Jackson’s story is that “ignorance, hypocrisy, and prejudice are a curse to humanity.” People can never fully eliminate their primitive instincts. Barbarism, wildness, cruelty, inhumanity, and irrationality always reside within humans. Outwardly, they speak in rhetorical tones about their societal development, but inwardly, they remain savage. There is an unbelievable difference between their words and actions. Societies harbor many superstitions; despite lacking reason and truth, people cling to them. They harbor fear, yet they hide it. They suffer themselves and inflict suffering upon others.
The story suggests that even ‘decent’ human beings in a ‘civilized’ Western community are capable of such monstrous acts. Outwardly, humanity lives in an age of post offices, banks, and tractors, but its innermost nature remains primitive. This explains why Nancy and Billy laugh when they escape death, even though they know their escape ensures the death of either their father or mother. Someone is made a scapegoat and killed for no reason.
Critical Thinking Questions
After reading the story, many questions arise:
- Why is the lottery winner stoned to death?
- Why did Tessie want to include Don and Eva in the Hutchinson family’s drawing?
- Why do people claim the event is unfair only when the result is against them?
- Why do people demand others accept defeat, yet cannot accept it themselves when it’s their turn?
- Why do people resist changing the most harmful aspects of the ritual, while readily altering other parts?
- Is humanity inherently savage?
Personal Assimilation and Reflection
Reading this story helped me understand myself and society better. I realized that humanity is inherently selfish. If asked to choose between my life and that of my parent, I would certainly choose mine. I identified my mother with Tessie Hutchinson. She continuously works for the family, yet other members demand more from her. She is blamed and held responsible for no fault of her own. Our society is constantly changing. We abandon traditions we find inconvenient. However, we often disregard others. We force others to observe traditions blindly. Ultimately, we are all hypocrites.