The Lottery by Shirley Jackson - Book Report/Review Example

This short story explains the theme of following outdated rituals despite of the fact that these customs do not yield any good but are rather inhuman and result in the loss of human lives. Shirley Jackson has explained the theme of blind beliefs that people may hold in traditions and the lack of any questioning for these traditions. The lottery is a tradition followed by many villages and it is performed in a very organized way. It is marked as one of the “civic activities” of the village.

No one is spared in this annual lottery and even women and children may die if they are the ones who receive the slip with the “black spot.” The villagers do not have the courage to question and stand up against this ritual although many of them have questions and doubts with regard to this lottery performed every year. This can be analyzed when Mr. Adams who is one of the villagers tells Old Man Warner, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery." This explains the fact that a few villages had understood the inadequacy of this lottery and they were deciding on putting an end to this cruel act that was performed every year.

The strong belief of the old people in traditions like the lottery is explained by Jackson in the story. Old Man Warner explains that people who did not follow this important ritual would bring themselves sufferings. He says, “"Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” These lines explain the strong faith of the people in traditions like these without considering the consequences and without analyzing the importance of precious human lives that are lost.

Warner is an old man and he knows more about this annual lottery than the other villagers. He tries to explain to them that the discontinuation of the lottery would push them into difficulties and force them to live like primitives. Shirley Jackson has utilized many symbols in her short story to make her point evident to the reader. The “black box” is one of the most important tools used by her. The “black box” is very old but the villagers have not changed it since years in the same way as they have failed to change the ritual of the lottery.

The black box has lost its shape and color but still it is persistently used owing to the belief that this box was made from the remains of the previous black box that was being used since generations. The condition of the black box is very disordered and shattered but still it continues to be used. This can be compared to the lottery which has also lost its original characteristics and many of the activities like the “recital” by the lottery organizer or the wooden slips that were used initially were no longer a part of this tradition.

Thus this symbol explains that the tradition was obsolete but still it was persisting as it was passed on through generations much like the “black box.” The “black” color is also one of the symbols used in the story. The box in which the name slips are collected is black and the slip of the person who is chosen to die is also marked with a “black dot.” This black color depicts the dark nature of this lottery and the wrongs associated with it. Black is a color which is linked with evil and this color explains the darkness and the wrongdoings linked with the lottery.

Shirley Jackson