Shirley Jackson’s symbolism in The Lottery portrays manhood’s nature as meaningless due to a savage tradition. On literature, symbolism is important to understand foreshadowing and distinctions. In some cases, symbols can have a cultural significance and non-changing for the characters in the story. However, sometimes the meaning of the symbols is deeply hidden and understood as the story continues. Characters in literature are fundamental to understand the story being told by either a character on the story or the author. The characters’ choices and thoughts develop the plot, themes and symbols in a story. Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery symbolism and characters are related and without noticing they help the reader have a better understanding
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However, we do not see that the last names of the story foreshadow the characters’ personality and nature. For example, from the beginning of the story the Delacroix family is involved in the mix of villagers. In French, last name Delacroix literally means “of-the-cross.” Their last name obviously foreshadows that the family is from a religious nature. However, Mrs. Delacroix is friends with Tessie Hutchinson, but turns against her when she is chosen for the annual sacrifice. Mrs. Delacroix’s actions symbolizes that the church, usually seen as a positive influence, can sometimes turn against a person when it comes to a ritual.
Another symbolic last name introduced in the story is Adams. Mr. Adams shows that the story can applied to everyone, but his last name makes him stand out. Mr. Adams is meant to be seen as an average person who was the first to draw a paper from the box. However, his name and the fact that he is the first man to draw from the black box, indicates that he is a representative of humans. If we relate Mr. Adams to Adam from the book of Genesis, both are representations of human and they represent the fall of …show more content…
The number three has two different meanings in The Lottery. The box and the lottery itself, are based upon the Christian religion. Thus, the number three can represent the Holy Trinity. The number three can also represent the three different townspeople’s attitudes towards the lottery: indifference, concern, and excitement. The lottery occurs on the twenty seventh of June. If we take the number of the month, and divide it by the two in the twenty-seven, it leaves three and the seven. If we go to Exodus chapter 7, the third book of the Bible, it deals with a blood sacrifice made to ease the guilt. This is obviously connected to the lottery the townspeople practice. Seven is traditionally associated with good luck; the seventy-seven years Old Man Warner has attended the lottery represents luck. The number seven is also meant to represent perfection in the Bible. If a connection is made to the lottery, the townspeople do not move on from this horrendous tradition because of its
However, we do not see that the last names of the story foreshadow the characters’ personality and nature. For example, from the beginning of the story the Delacroix family is involved in the mix of villagers. In French, last name Delacroix literally means “of-the-cross.” Their last name obviously foreshadows that the family is from a religious nature. However, Mrs. Delacroix is friends with Tessie Hutchinson, but turns against her when she is chosen for the annual sacrifice. Mrs. Delacroix’s actions symbolizes that the church, usually seen as a positive influence, can sometimes turn against a person when it comes to a ritual.
Another symbolic last name introduced in the story is Adams. Mr. Adams shows that the story can applied to everyone, but his last name makes him stand out. Mr. Adams is meant to be seen as an average person who was the first to draw a paper from the box. However, his name and the fact that he is the first man to draw from the black box, indicates that he is a representative of humans. If we relate Mr. Adams to Adam from the book of Genesis, both are representations of human and they represent the fall of …show more content…
The number three has two different meanings in The Lottery. The box and the lottery itself, are based upon the Christian religion. Thus, the number three can represent the Holy Trinity. The number three can also represent the three different townspeople’s attitudes towards the lottery: indifference, concern, and excitement. The lottery occurs on the twenty seventh of June. If we take the number of the month, and divide it by the two in the twenty-seven, it leaves three and the seven. If we go to Exodus chapter 7, the third book of the Bible, it deals with a blood sacrifice made to ease the guilt. This is obviously connected to the lottery the townspeople practice. Seven is traditionally associated with good luck; the seventy-seven years Old Man Warner has attended the lottery represents luck. The number seven is also meant to represent perfection in the Bible. If a connection is made to the lottery, the townspeople do not move on from this horrendous tradition because of its