Winning the Lottery Equals Death
in Shirley Jackson
Who wins the lottery in the story the lottery?
Tess Hutchinson
wins the lottery.
What does it mean to win the lottery in the short story the lottery?
The story describes a fictional small town which observes an annual rite known as “the lottery”, in which
a member of the community is selected by chance
. The shocking consequence of being selected in the lottery is revealed only at the end.
What is the prize as stated in the story the lottery?
The winner of the lottery does receive an interesting prize. In this story, the “winner” is
the biggest loser
. Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson wins the lottery and is stoned to death by the other villagers.
What is the point of the story the lottery?
There is a lottery to see which kid will likely be killed. The point is,
follow the rules
, because those are the rules. The point of the story as a whole to the reader though is a warning against blindly following rules.
Why was Tessie late to the lottery?
Tessie Hutchinson
She is excited about the lottery and fully willing to participate every year, but when her family's name is drawn, she protests that the lottery isn't fair. Tessie arrives at the village square late
because she forgot what day it was
.
Why does Tessie say that the lottery is unfair?
Tessie thinks the lottery is unfair
because she won
. If someone else won, she would not have complained at all. Tessie thinks the lottery is unfair because she lost.
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.
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.
Who was exempt from the lottery?
Jackson makes it very clear that no on escapes the lottery.
Children, the elderly
, and even people who are sick or injured all participate.
How does the lottery relate to real life?
“The Lottery” relates to
real life because it shows us how people can easily be repressed by the communities they inhabit
. Most of us derive great strength and comfort from the communities in which we live. But too many people are repressed by the communities in which they live.
What is the main conflict in the lottery?
Person versus society
is the major conflict in “The Lottery” because the conflict revolves around Tessie Hutchinson's struggle against her town, the citizens of which insist on observing a ritual of sacrifice each year in blind adherence to tradition.
What are the symbols in the lottery?
- Stones. The stones that the villagers use to kill the victim selected by the lottery are mentioned periodically throughout the story. …
- The Black Box. …
- The marked slip of paper.
What does he say will happen without a lottery?
In Old Man Warner's eyes, doing away with the lottery would be akin to going back to primitive times.
He believes that society would fail without the lottery
. His belief, likely shared by many in their community, indicates how people could be willing to accept such a violent tradition.
What is the irony in The Lottery?
The title of the story itself is ironic because
the idea of a lottery usually involves a reward for the winner
whereas, in this case, the “winner” of the lottery is stoned to death instead. The irony continues in the opening description as the narrator paints a cheery picture of a bright and beautiful summer day.
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.
