The Meaningless Lottery - Essay Example

The Meaningless LotteryShirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” is surprising in many ways. Telling the story of a village getting together to conduct a lottery for something that isn’t made clear until the end, the story is full of bright imagery and suggestions that the typical definition of the word ‘lottery’ as something positive and strongly desired by the contestants is correct. However, by the end of the story, things have become as black as the black box used to hold the lottery tickets.

When the main character, Tessie Hutchinson, is stoned to death at the end, it becomes clear that the lottery is a barbaric practice that has continued to be practiced in spite of the fact that no one knows why. Through the story, Jackson illustrates in a very graphic and shocking way the tendency that people have to cling to old traditions, ideas, practices or rules even when they have lost all meaning or relevance as shown through the symbolism of the black box, the thoughts of the villagers and the innocent participation of the children.

The black box is a symbol of the original idea and purpose behind the lottery. The narrator tells us “the original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born” (118). The box is falling apart, but a rumor that part of this box was originally part of the first box used for the lottery keeps the villagers from making a new one. The condition of the box suggests the condition of the idea that originated the practice as it is described: “The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained” (119).

This shows that the shadow of the idea that is represented by the box itself has become so fractured and weak that it no longer provides any sort of reflection of the original concept. The history provided of the lottery is sketchy at best, reinforcing the symbolism of the breaking box. Just as the paraphernalia was lost, so was much of the original history: “At one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery; a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year … but years and years ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse” (119).

While there is a subtle hint that perhaps the lottery is tied up with ancient traditions of fertility and the harvest, this is as close to the history or usefulness of the lottery as the story gets.The villagers also seem unsure of the tradition. As the drawing gets underway, there is some talk in the crowd that there are other villages talking about getting rid of the lottery. Mr. Adams brings up the subject to Old Man Warner who immediately scoffs at the foolishness of such new ideas, suggesting that there has always been a lottery but gives no reasons why it should be continued.

While people have questioned the reasons for the lottery, they remain dedicated to its practice as the victim is finally selected. “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones” (123) as Tessie is stoned to death.Through symbolism, history and characters, Jackson illustrates how unthinking adherence to old ideas becomes a liability for a community. The black box symbolizes the original idea that has been replaced by an inferior substitute that is even now falling apart from its own age.

The history of the ritual is shown to have been lost in much the same way as the original equipment for the lottery has been lost. Finally, the villagers themselves indicate their strong adherence to the idea even though they can’t remember just what that idea is. The barbaric stoning to death of a woman by her own children is the horrific result.Works CitedJackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” (1949). Printed in Mercury Reader. Melanie Rubens. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2007.