A lottery is a game where a prize is awarded to a person or group by chance. The prize can be money or goods. People play the lottery to try to win big prizes, but they also do it for fun. Lotteries can be a form of gambling, and some states ban them. The lottery has a long history, and it is a common part of the culture in some countries.
Shirley Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, takes place in a small rural American village. The main theme of the story is the blind following of outdated traditions. Jackson portrays the villagers as hypocritical and evil. The villagers treat each other in a friendly and casual manner, but their actions speak of their dark side. For example, Mrs. Hutchinson, a mother of two, does not show any loyalty to her family members. She is willing to let them suffer for her sake, even though she knows that one of them will have to be stoned to death.
When writing an essay on The Lottery, it is important to understand the story. Read the story multiple times and take notes on the plot, characters, and themes. This will help you identify the central theme of the story. Then, use that theme to write an analysis of the story.
One of the main themes in The Lottery is tradition and societal conformity. The villagers in the story follow old traditions and rituals, and they believe that they will receive something of value in return. This is seen in Old Man Warner’s quote, “Used to be a saying, ‘Lottery in June; corn will be heavy soon.’”
Another main theme in The Lottery is family and relationships. The villagers treat each other as if they are family members, but their actions speak of their true nature. One of the most obvious examples is Mrs. Delacroix, who is angry at the loss of her son and tries to blame others. Her anger and rage are clearly displayed in her action of picking up a rock that is so large she had trouble holding it with both hands.
The Lottery is a story that shows the darker sides of humanity. The villagers are hypocritical and evil, but they do not see this. They blindly follow old traditions and rituals, and they do not question their actions. Jackson uses the setting and actions of the characters to highlight these aspects of human nature. By showing this, she makes it clear that humans are not able to control themselves and act in a good way.