When developing an inspiration for a story, a writer must put many ideas into the process. There are numerous items that when combined create an interesting and pleasurable story. There are many characteristics that a story must encompass to be enjoyable. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” concerns a small town’s annual lottery drawing and the grim circumstances that ensue. In ths short but disturbingly profound piece of work Shirley Jackson communicates to the reader the theme of the story along with its implications concerning traditions.
In The Lottery, tradition plays a key role in keeping one town happy and peaceful. The lottery occurs every year on June 27. Although the lottery may be a little morally unjust, it is still a tradition and traditions are hard to break. The lottery for the town is the backbone of the community. The lottery for the town brings a day of conversation and happiness. The boys run around and gather rocks. The girls talk to one another and the women “...greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands” (268). The men gather, “... surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes” (268). The lottery is used to bring people
The villagers’ acceptance of the lottery and its schedule is justified by tradition. Although some people will read this and say “ so what? It is tradition.” However, although not mentioned in the introduction this seemingly normal village is preparing for a murder. The lottery’s ritual can be defined as tradition, but to accept the fact that a murder can be committed prior to sitting down for noon dinner is absurd. The citizens in the story reflect this as they gather amongst themselves and “... smiled instead of laughing” (268) Tension within the village is seen throughout yet no one objects or questions the lottery because they are scared to disrupt the routine of life.
together and is viewed like any other fun filled town event.
These rituals were discarded by the mass population.
The people of the village began to gather in the square... so it can begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner”(268).
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