The Lottery Essay Examples

Introduction Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” stands as a timeless and unsettling piece of literature, woven with intricate themes that challenge societal norms and expose the dark underbelly of blind adherence to tradition. This essay embarks on a journey to dissect the themes interwoven within “The Lottery,” delving into the symbolism of tradition, the undercurrents of…

Introduction Shirley Jackson’s captivating narrative, “The Lottery,” has etched itself into the annals of literary history, delving into the enigmatic realm of symbols and their ability to illuminate the hidden depths of human nature. Through intricate layers of symbolism, Jackson weaves a tale that dances on the boundary between the mundane and the macabre, challenging…

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is one of the most famous short stories of all time. Originally published in the New Yorker in 1948, it generated controversy due to its graphic depiction of a lottery that determines who will be stoned each year. But what kind of story provoked such a negative response? It’s a…

This popular American idiom means many things depending on the circumstances (no pun intended). For the characters in literature written by certain women it means being driven to a breaking point beyond logical thought. Societal pressures weigh heavily on characters like John’s wife in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and Tessie Hutchinson from “The Lottery”. These women…

Tradition is defined as “the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc. from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice” (“Definition”). In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, readers are exposed to a fatal tradition with no true purpose other than the fact that it is tradition. Many traditions are…

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” follows the story of a small town, starting their usual June routine of playing the lottery, an event that many associate with joy. However, the reader eventually realizes the lottery is not a joyous occasion when the winner, Tessie, is stoned at the end of the drawing. The shocking ending of…

The desire of escaping reality stems from the unhappiness of one’s current situation. Unhappiness could be the lack of contentment, loss of family values or living in a false reality. It can also be “more often indicated by a simple wish for the masses to simply, magically, disappear.” (Krishna 2327). This unhappiness sometimes results in…

Letter from Mrs. Hutchinson to The Council of the Village:I am writing to you about the lottery which we hold every year. In this lotterywhich a person is chosen at random and is stoned to death. I understand that you believethat since it has been tradition for so long and therefore, it is okay. It…

The Lottery According to anthropologist, William A. Haviland, ” ritual is the means by which the social bonds of a group are reinforced and tensions relieved. ” Shirley Jacksons short story, “The Lottery,” vividly illustrates the ease with which the individual in societytolerates and even participates in acts that if undertaken singly would be considered…

In the days of Jesus through the mid 1900s, people had many different superstitions, or beliefs, about life. People believed if they were to do certain things, they would have good luck. Like Indians used to do a dance, called the Indian rain dance, when they wanted it to rain so it would help their…