In “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, the story describes the tragedy of social conformity and the extreme preservation of traditions some individuals strive for, despite the malignant nature of such traditions. Jackson reveals the true reality behind the deeper fabric of society and traditions through foreshadowing, imagery, and symbolism.
Foreshadowing plays a very big act in most stories, as it can clue in the unsuspecting reader into the real meaning or plot of the story, and “The Lottery” is no different. The first insight into the oddity of the lottery mentioned in the story comes with a few “[boys making] a great pile of stones” (Jackson 243). It would only be revealed at the end of the story that the stones were being collected …show more content…
The ingrained idea of the Lottery and all the benefit they believe it holds, such as Old Man Warner’s phrase of “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon,” –and the symbol he serves as the close-minded elder of the town, wary of change and steadfast in opinions and beliefs– and the pouncing on the unfortunate soul to have gotten the “black spot” illustrates the blindness the people have to conform to the archaic rituals and traditions of the Lottery (Jackson 246, 249). The black box, which serves as the instigator for the Lottery, is a symbol for the reoccurring theme of death to nonconformity, as it “[has] been made with… pieces of the [previous box]” in the same manner the fabric of the towns’ history is splintered with the needless deaths of many who fell victim to the black box (Jackson 243). Philip Abbott criticises this way of life, stating whether or not “[it is right] someone should lose their life by lottery,” and to the extent society should play in the grander scheme of life that the “black mark,” a simple dot on a measly folded slip of paper, should have such a great influence as to condemn a person to death (Abbott). To this, conformity and tradition are scrutinized in the manner the stones that are collected for use in the climax of the story are the verbal and actions of those who
Foreshadowing plays a very big act in most stories, as it can clue in the unsuspecting reader into the real meaning or plot of the story, and “The Lottery” is no different. The first insight into the oddity of the lottery mentioned in the story comes with a few “[boys making] a great pile of stones” (Jackson 243). It would only be revealed at the end of the story that the stones were being collected …show more content…
The ingrained idea of the Lottery and all the benefit they believe it holds, such as Old Man Warner’s phrase of “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon,” –and the symbol he serves as the close-minded elder of the town, wary of change and steadfast in opinions and beliefs– and the pouncing on the unfortunate soul to have gotten the “black spot” illustrates the blindness the people have to conform to the archaic rituals and traditions of the Lottery (Jackson 246, 249). The black box, which serves as the instigator for the Lottery, is a symbol for the reoccurring theme of death to nonconformity, as it “[has] been made with… pieces of the [previous box]” in the same manner the fabric of the towns’ history is splintered with the needless deaths of many who fell victim to the black box (Jackson 243). Philip Abbott criticises this way of life, stating whether or not “[it is right] someone should lose their life by lottery,” and to the extent society should play in the grander scheme of life that the “black mark,” a simple dot on a measly folded slip of paper, should have such a great influence as to condemn a person to death (Abbott). To this, conformity and tradition are scrutinized in the manner the stones that are collected for use in the climax of the story are the verbal and actions of those who