Symbolism of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” The short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is about a small town that has a lottery, on June 27th, every year. All the citizens seem excited and amped up for this yearly occasion that Mr. Summers is in charge of. Though as the story progresses and comes to an end, it can be seen that this lottery is not something you want to win. These events of the story closely resemble the actions that took place in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. With the way Mr. Summers and old man Warner run the show and are not in the lottery, how the citizens of the town blindly following this “ritual” to their death, and the early participation of the children can be seen as symbols of Adolf Hitler, the people of Germany, and the Hitler Youth.
Adolf Hitler and Mr. Summers have numerous common characteristics. Mr. Summers, is described as a “roundfaced, jovial man” (255) who owns the coal business. He has the sympathy of the town’s people due to having no children and a …show more content…
The children have been taught that the lottery is a casual, regular affair. With school being out for the summer, the children have this eagerness and anticipation for the June 27th event. They get there earlier than others and gather their own rocks and stones to use on the winner later on. They are even into it enough to essentially play a game of keep away. It states that once they have made their piles, they must “guard [their piles of stones] against the raids of the other boys” (254). With the high amount of involvement by the children, just like with the Hitler Youth, the tradition can be predicted to continue with the next generation. The Hitler Youth was established with the purpose to carry on the ways of Nazism. Teaching them certain things and how to act certain ways at a young age, just as in the story, will assure that the next generations will continue the way Hitler, or Mr. Summers, intended it to
Adolf Hitler and Mr. Summers have numerous common characteristics. Mr. Summers, is described as a “roundfaced, jovial man” (255) who owns the coal business. He has the sympathy of the town’s people due to having no children and a …show more content…
The children have been taught that the lottery is a casual, regular affair. With school being out for the summer, the children have this eagerness and anticipation for the June 27th event. They get there earlier than others and gather their own rocks and stones to use on the winner later on. They are even into it enough to essentially play a game of keep away. It states that once they have made their piles, they must “guard [their piles of stones] against the raids of the other boys” (254). With the high amount of involvement by the children, just like with the Hitler Youth, the tradition can be predicted to continue with the next generation. The Hitler Youth was established with the purpose to carry on the ways of Nazism. Teaching them certain things and how to act certain ways at a young age, just as in the story, will assure that the next generations will continue the way Hitler, or Mr. Summers, intended it to