What Do The Critics Say About The Lottery?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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“The Lottery” was controversial

because it critiqued blind conformity to tradition

. It was written when American nationalism was rising in response to growing fears of communism. Many readers were thus upset with Jackson’s negative portrayal of conformity, which they interpreted as a critique of patriotism.

What is the problem in the story The Lottery?

The main conflict of this short story is

character versus society

because it is society that insists upon the continuation of the lottery as a tradition, and it is this tradition—upheld by society—which is responsible for the brutal end of Tessie Hutchinson’s life.

Why was The Lottery so controversial?

“The Lottery” was controversial

because it critiqued blind conformity to tradition

. It was written when American nationalism was rising in response to growing fears of communism. Many readers were thus upset with Jackson’s negative portrayal of conformity, which they interpreted as a critique of patriotism.

How does the writer feel about The Lottery?

The writer’s attitude towards the lottery is

when a person pulls the paper out of the black box and if there is black dot on it that person must be stoned

. … This also makes writer’s attitude clear because it shows the way the characters act when the lottery comes around again.

Is The Lottery by Shirley Jackson rigged?

As its very title suggests, Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” focuses on an apparent game of chance.

Unless lotteries are rigged

, they are supposed to be decided purely by accident, not by any design. … In this lottery, however, there seems no escape clause.

Why did the lottery make so many people angry?

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a chilling short story, to say the least. People were probably bitter when this came out

because of the story’s shocking ending

. In the work, a town is preparing for their annual lottery. There is excitement in the air as the families prepare to go to the town square for the ceremony.

Why was Tessie late at the gathering to hold the lottery?

Why was Tessie late to arrive at the gathering to hold the lottery?

She started to leave town to protest the lottery. She ran away but was caught and returned

. She wasn’t late–she was the first to arrive.

What is the moral lesson in The Lottery?

In “The Lottery,” the moral lesson or theme is

that one should not blindly follow traditions simply because they’re tradition.

What is the main message of The Lottery?

The main themes in “The Lottery” are

the vulnerability of the individual, the importance of questioning tradition, and the relationship between civilization and violence

.

Who killed Tessie in The Lottery?

Those who are responsible for Tessie’s death are her husband Bill, the town’s elder Old Man Warner, and the town’s society as a whole. One person responsible for Tessie’s death is

her static husband Bill Hutchinson

.

What is the symbolism of the black box and stones in the lottery?

In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses the black box and stones to symbolize

death

in order to support a key theme.

Is Tessie an innocent victim?

Tessie essentially becomes invisible to them in the fervor of persecution. Although she has done nothing “wrong,”

her innocence doesn’t matter

. She has drawn the marked paper—she has herself become marked—and according to the logic of the lottery, she therefore must die.

What does the black box symbolize in the lottery?

The Black Box

The shabby black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and

the illogic of the villagers’ loyalty to it

. The black box is nearly falling apart, hardly even black anymore after years of use and storage, but the villagers are unwilling to replace it.

What is Jackson’s main theme in The Lottery?

Jackson examines

the basics of human nature

in “The Lottery,” asking whether or not all humans are capable of violence and cruelty, and exploring how those natural inclinations can be masked, directed, or emphasized by the structure of society.

How much money can you get from The Lottery?

So, let’s say you decide to take the cash option when you win the Mega Millions jackpot. If the jackpot remains at $515 million for Friday’s drawing, the cash option is

$346.3

million. The federal government will immediately take $83,112,000 from that cash option (24%), leaving you $263,188,000.

What time period is The Lottery set in?

A short story set

in Vermont during the 1940s; published in 1948

. Members of a small town gather for the annual lottery, which seems like a festive event but is not. Its true purpose is revealed when Tessie Hurchinson draws the “winning” slip, and is stoned to death by her townspeople.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.