A tradition is the passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication. It can also be viewed as a body of unwritten religious precepts. With this definition, we look at Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery" as an outdated tradition where Jackson expresses her feelings of this ritual through the use of symbolism. In the short story, the township refuses to evolve with the world and chooses to continue to indulge in the practice of rituals such as stoning to death. Jackson chooses to speak out against such practices by bringing emphasis on it through the means of symbols in names, the black box, spot and a three-legged stool and finally in the person of Tessie Hutchinson specifically. She uses these to show the lack of humanity in the town their concerns with traditions and rituals than the overall man.
The character's names play a large role in the short story. Beginning with Mr. Summers, his name is a representation the season and of the lottery itself. Summer comes annually as does the lottery. It's held annually on the 27th of June. "The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green" (Jackson, 347). This is ironic that the lottery would be held at such a happy time. Next, Mr. Graves symbolizes the end result of the lottery, a grave. We begin to see death through him before we actually know it is going to happen. Just his name is foreshadowing of what is to come. Old Man Warner is symbolic of the tradition itself. He states that there's always been a lottery. "Seventy-seventh year I've been in the lottery. Seventy-seventh time" (Jackson, 350). .
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He shows the consistency and longevity of the lottery and a present indication that it is not about to end.
