“The Lottery” and its Townspeople When “The Lottery,” a short story by Shirly Jackson, was first published in The New Yorker in June 1948, it aroused overwhelmingly negative responses, even cancellations of subscriptions and hate mail for Jackson. Now, however, “The Lottery” is recognized as a classic, in which is often, anthologized and adapted for film. The story is se in a small rural town of about 300 residents who gather each year for a lottery. Although the setting is “clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day,” the scene eventually shocks as Jackson illuminates the mindset within a seemingly harmonious community (Jackson 1). Since few characters are spotlighted and the setting is typical of any random small town,
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From the start of the short story its explained as a good feeling type of town. People are gathering as one on a summer day with blossoming flowers and luscious grass everywhere (1). As the reader goes on with the journey of the mostly unnamed townspeople, the reader will begin to see a sudden transformation in the surrounding setting and become involved in a murder scene. This occurs when the town discovers that Tessie Hutchinson held the piece of paper with the black dot on it. The black dot representing that the holder will die from stones. This horrific incident is illustrated at the end of the short story in describing Tessie Hutchinson’s last moments. “Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. ‘It isn’t fair,’ she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head… ‘It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,’ Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they where upon her” (1). These last sentences leave an eerie feeling with the reader and leaves one asking as to why the town turned into murders without …show more content…
Again, as the reader goes on this journey with the townspeople the reader will begin to realize what a “joyful” event the town is making the lottery seem. Mrs. Hutchinson enters the scene and Mr. Summers speaks cheerfully saying, “’Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie.’ Mrs. Hutchinson said, grinning, ‘Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now, would you. Joe?’ and a soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into position after Mrs. Hutchinson’s arrival” (1). From the start of Mrs. Hutchinson’s entrance in this story, to the end of this short story one can see the drastic changes she makes when she learns that she is the beholder of the black stained piece of paper. She goes from cheerful and unsuspecting to terrified and scattered. Its sad to see that the villagers do not worry for their own lives and their families until they draw the unexpected charcoal stained paper. This time of the year to the villagers is just any other day. That is proven when Mr. Summers tells everyone to hurry up and draw the pieces of paper and to quickly end the lottery event. In conclusion, Jackson’s whole purpose of her short story was to point out that people are not attentive to other feelings, people are quick to look in the mirror and justify their actions through not partaking in consequences. The people of this town are set in
From the start of the short story its explained as a good feeling type of town. People are gathering as one on a summer day with blossoming flowers and luscious grass everywhere (1). As the reader goes on with the journey of the mostly unnamed townspeople, the reader will begin to see a sudden transformation in the surrounding setting and become involved in a murder scene. This occurs when the town discovers that Tessie Hutchinson held the piece of paper with the black dot on it. The black dot representing that the holder will die from stones. This horrific incident is illustrated at the end of the short story in describing Tessie Hutchinson’s last moments. “Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. ‘It isn’t fair,’ she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head… ‘It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,’ Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they where upon her” (1). These last sentences leave an eerie feeling with the reader and leaves one asking as to why the town turned into murders without …show more content…
Again, as the reader goes on this journey with the townspeople the reader will begin to realize what a “joyful” event the town is making the lottery seem. Mrs. Hutchinson enters the scene and Mr. Summers speaks cheerfully saying, “’Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie.’ Mrs. Hutchinson said, grinning, ‘Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now, would you. Joe?’ and a soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into position after Mrs. Hutchinson’s arrival” (1). From the start of Mrs. Hutchinson’s entrance in this story, to the end of this short story one can see the drastic changes she makes when she learns that she is the beholder of the black stained piece of paper. She goes from cheerful and unsuspecting to terrified and scattered. Its sad to see that the villagers do not worry for their own lives and their families until they draw the unexpected charcoal stained paper. This time of the year to the villagers is just any other day. That is proven when Mr. Summers tells everyone to hurry up and draw the pieces of paper and to quickly end the lottery event. In conclusion, Jackson’s whole purpose of her short story was to point out that people are not attentive to other feelings, people are quick to look in the mirror and justify their actions through not partaking in consequences. The people of this town are set in