The Lottery The historical, social, political, and cultural context of a particular time period can have an influence on literature. Knowing the major events and historical information that took place during the time period which an author wrote can help a reader better understand and analyze a piece of literature more clearly. In the short story, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson the lottery in which the town’s people participate mirrors the Draft of World War II by echoing the stress and uncertainty, the common good , and the impact it had on families/communities of the people involved. When the United States issued the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, it sent the country into frenzy. The act stated that all men between the ages
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Men who are selected for the draft sometimes are forced to leave their wife and kids behind, just as Tessie Hutchinson was forced to do when she was he one selected to get stoned to death. Losing either a wife/husband or mother/father can leave a strain on the home life and structure of a family. The families of the ones selected are willing to kill their own family member because they believe it is a necessity for the good of the village. Families are blinded by the yearly ritual and are convinced that killing their own blood is okay and harmless. Though the family may not realize it when the sacrifice is taking place, but losing a father/mother can take a toll on a family. Tessie Hutchinson’s family and the families that were affected in the draft had to learn to adjust to living without the ones they lost. Not only did they have to deal with the sudden loss of someone they loved, but they dealt with losing a secure home life. In both “The Lottery” and the draft, the loss of a working wife and husband meant the possible loss of a steady income and the loss of a father and mother for their children. Not having a mother or father figure can impact a kid’s life in a psychological way by not having them to look up to and go to for their everyday needs. Unlike the negative impact it had on their families, the loss of Mrs. Hutchinson and the men in the draft impacted their communities in a positive way. The impact the draft had on the community and economy back home was astonishing. When over 36 million men were selected for the draft, the unemployment back in the US practically disappeared.(nationalww2museum) The high demand from the military provided women, African Americans, and other minorities job opportunities and higher wages. Comparable to the blooming
Men who are selected for the draft sometimes are forced to leave their wife and kids behind, just as Tessie Hutchinson was forced to do when she was he one selected to get stoned to death. Losing either a wife/husband or mother/father can leave a strain on the home life and structure of a family. The families of the ones selected are willing to kill their own family member because they believe it is a necessity for the good of the village. Families are blinded by the yearly ritual and are convinced that killing their own blood is okay and harmless. Though the family may not realize it when the sacrifice is taking place, but losing a father/mother can take a toll on a family. Tessie Hutchinson’s family and the families that were affected in the draft had to learn to adjust to living without the ones they lost. Not only did they have to deal with the sudden loss of someone they loved, but they dealt with losing a secure home life. In both “The Lottery” and the draft, the loss of a working wife and husband meant the possible loss of a steady income and the loss of a father and mother for their children. Not having a mother or father figure can impact a kid’s life in a psychological way by not having them to look up to and go to for their everyday needs. Unlike the negative impact it had on their families, the loss of Mrs. Hutchinson and the men in the draft impacted their communities in a positive way. The impact the draft had on the community and economy back home was astonishing. When over 36 million men were selected for the draft, the unemployment back in the US practically disappeared.(nationalww2museum) The high demand from the military provided women, African Americans, and other minorities job opportunities and higher wages. Comparable to the blooming