In the story the black box from which the slips of paper are selected holds a meaning of tradition. ?There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village there (367).? Using the same wood from the first box shows how the people in the town hold on to tradition. But at the same time when we are given a description that ?the black box grew shabbier each year?(367)?, and because the box has gotten worn, the townspeople have suggested making a new box. The suggestion is always made right before or after the lottery but as the year passes the idea is forgotten. This may also suggest that perhaps when the box can no longer fully be used that in the future the lottery may altogether stop, because without

A day that started out like any other day became this evil, dark, and malicious town. Before anyone was picked many people were uneasy about the lottery, but once Mrs. Hutchinson was chosen, no one even bothered to take action and suggest that the lottery should be dismissed. A town that at first was creating opposing sides to this ritual later unties when they know that they do not have to suffer through the consequences of the lottery. They unite to perform the evil act of stoning Mrs. Hutchinson, and perform the ritual as quickly as they can, and even people who were Mrs. Hutchinson?s friends are ready to stone her, using the biggest stones, setting out in front of everyone else, and even assist her son by giving him pebbles to throw at his own mother!

Through the symbolism of the black box and the characters opposing sides to the lottery, Jackson creates an underlining meaning that societies are cruel to each other as long as tradition is valued and violence is preserved through certain actions, in this case violence was preserved through the stoning. Through the irony of a lottery being so horrible and the elements Jackson has used to create her meaning of the story, she has shown how cruel and violent people can be.

The black box also creates and uneasy feeling amongst the peop

Some topics in this essay:
Lottery June, Lottery Jackson, black box, hutchinson chosen, tradition black box, people town, box creates, violence preserved, tradition black, lottery jackson, suggest lottery, perform ritual,