The Lottery Irony

The village square is the average gathering ‘center’ for the lottery. Although typical town squares are usually bustling with business affairs and playing children, the town square within “The Lottery” is not only a playground for children, but for death as well. This is demonstrated by the grotesque ending of “The Lottery”. Mrs. Hutchinson’s apron not only demonstrates that the lottery occurred while she was working, but it also sets the opinion that the lottery is nothing but a burden for the town. The lottery takes people out of their normal routine within the day, which must irritate some of the townspeople. Old Man Warner is the town's ‘old man”. Within the town Warner has been through the lottery as many as “seventy-seven” times. This …show more content…
Even her title “The Lottery” can be transcribed into something cheerful due to idea that lotteries are something anyone can willingly participate in so they can gain something in return. During the reveal of the setting and usual tone of the story, which is peaceful and happy, the audience is given the false pretense that this will be the atmosphere throughout the entire short story. However, these factors contribute tremendously to the irony proposed at the end of the story, which is grotesque and …show more content…
Although one may see the town’s faded clothing as just that, clothes, the true symbolic meaning behind this type of dress wear is also demonstrated through the description of the box and in which a few of the town's members speak of the lottery. Jackson describes the black box, in which the lottery system works, as splintered, ragged, and faded. In addition, Mrs. Dunbar states how she’d “wish they’d hurry” inferencing that the lottery is but a burden on the society. These factors symbolize how, perhaps, the lottery is an outdated tradition that is a waste of time for the current working