Lottery

The physical appearance of the box suggests that it was not only the black box that needed to be replaced but the tradition of the lottery. People should be only accepting the old ways of being, but also the new changes that revealed from the traditional folklores or ideas or cultures. .
             The setting of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" takes place on a clear, sunny June day. One of the most important protagonists is Mr. Summers. Summer is the season of growing, the season of life. The setting of the story and the protagonist's name symbolize the fertile traditional ritual because the harvest that is being sacrificed to is being grown in the summer. However, the harvest should be fine because another setting of the story tells that "the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green" (78). This indicates that a man is been sacrificed in the ritual is incorrect and immoral. .
             Mr. Summers did many things to slowly wean the old tradition, the old harshness, and old immorality. He had been trying to reform the old tradition even though he was the conductor or host of the festival. In the story, Mr. Summers had the wooden chips replaced by more convenient slips of paper. He also "spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box"(79). However, the villagers ignored him and the idea of making a new box was "allowed to fade off without anything's being done"(79). Therefore, he represented new ideas as well as old. However, the new idea was not accepted by the close-minded village people. Man is refused to make changes to the tradition that may be immoral because he has done so. If given the chance and support, Mr. Summers would have more than likely accepted and backed the motion to cease the lottery and stop the sacrifice. However people were not enthusiastic in changing the tradition. Thus, even though he conducted the lottery which someone was sacrificed (murdered) he is seen as one of the most innocent characters because of his "new" ideas and wishes for something better.