The Lottery
Introduction
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a story that sticks with you. It’s about a small town with a tradition that ends in a shocking way. This paper looks at how the story shows us the dangers of just going along with things because it’s what we’ve always done, and how we can become numb to really bad stuff happening.
The Villager's Tradition
In the story, everyone in town just does the lottery because it’s always been done. It’s kind of scary to think about. It makes me ask myself about the things I do just because I’m used to them. Could some of them be wrong or hurtful, and I just don’t see it because it’s “tradition”?
The Ignored Violence
The way the town treats the lottery’s violent end is really unsettling. They act like it’s no big deal, but it’s actually horrible. It’s made me think about the times I’ve seen something wrong and didn’t do anything. This story is a reminder to not ignore the bad things and to speak up instead.
My Reflection
Reading “The Lottery” made me feel a lot of things. It’s more than a story; it’s like it’s asking me to wake up and see what’s going on around me. It’s made me want to be more aware and to question things more, especially the things that don’t seem right.
Conclusion
“The Lottery” isn’t just a tale about a weird village tradition; it’s a warning about what can happen when we stop thinking for ourselves. This paper was my way of trying to understand that message. We need to be careful about what we accept as “normal” and always be ready to stand up for what’s right. Stoning is an ancient punishment, and very horrible to witness in person.
References
Jackson, S. (1948, June 18). The lottery. The New Yorker. Retrieved April 1, 2024, from https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery.
The morning of June 27th; the gathering of the villagers in the square; the children assembling and playing with stones; the men and women joining the gathering; Mr. Summers conducting the lottery; the black box and its history; the substitution of slips of paper for wood chips; the drawing of names from the box; the selection of the Hutchinson family; the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson.