The Lottery: Symbolic Tour De Force

“The Lottery” is a short story written by Shirley Jackson, and published in 1949. Just a couple of years after World War II, where many people was scared with lost loved ones due to the war. Many believed that the story should not have been published because of it gruesome ending and “psychological shock.” In the Journal Article “ ‘The Lottery’: Symbolic Tour de Force,” Helen E. Nebeker looks in depth into the story “The Lottery” pointing out the themes and symbolisms heavy meaning of the story. In “ The Lottery’: Symbolic Tour de Force,” Nebeker she analyzes the key Symbols in the story which Jackson represents in the story. Nebeker states that the three-legged stool, which the box rests upon, is just as important, if not a more important …show more content…
In “The Lottery” people where doing these rituals as if they were forced to do it, but nobody in the story wanted to die. “ Those chosen for sacrifice were not victims but saviors who would propitiate the gods, enticing them to bring rebirth, renewal, and thanking them with their blood” (Nebeker 228). It was more of a religion and practice as Nebeker states in her article about “The Lottery.” But the problem was nobody remembered the rituals. Jackson says in her story “ at one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory” (Jackson 2). The characters in the story seemed as if they were forced to do this, they were afraid of change. Old man Warner in Jacksons story who’s been in seventy-seven Lotteries says, “ It’s not the way it used to be,” stating, “People ain’t the way they used to …show more content…
Mr. Summers to start off is characterized as the season in which the story takes place, which is a clear and sunny day that was a “full-summer day.” But Nebeker in her article states the season is “time of ancient excess and sacrifice”(Nebeker 227). Nebeker also states the last name “Delacroix,” which means from the cross. As we remember in the story, Mrs. Delacroix was very friendly and nice with Mrs. Hutchinson. But as Jackson told in her story, “ . . . Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Hurry up.” As it seemed to be her friend throughout the beginning of the story. Nebeker also says, “Martin, Bobby’s surname, derives from a Middle English word signifying ape or monkey” (Nebeker 227). This is because Bobby Martin, the kid that was stuffing his pockets with rocks showed signs of savagery when he was “laughing back at the pile of