In the early 20th, Americans saw the rise and fall of their country. Their country fell during the Great Depression. Their economy weaken and their spirits broken. Then, everything changed with World War 2. America grabbed their economic unrest by the neck and rose to become the most powerful nation in the world. This rapid rise and continuous success bolstered the egos of Americans. They feel that nothing could stop them and they are right to feel that way. However, there are people who believes that America is being too confident in their powers. That they are careless in their glory and that they would do anything to protect their glory. I believe that the short story “The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson in 1949, could be a forewarning
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This ritual involves a human sacrifice and that this particular ritual is at least the “seventy-seventh year” according to a character (Old Man Warren) from the story (Jackson, 254). Based solely on how long the Lottery has lived, it is safe to assume that it is very successful. The majority of the credit goes to the people who uphold this tradition. Everyone agrees to the ritual, even the children like Davy Hutchinson a son of Mrs. Hutchinson. The tradition will continue to live on so long as the majority of the village recognizes the ritual as a tradition. Similarly, this is what happened in Germany and what was developing in America. In Germany, the Nazi Regime scapegoat the Jews. They blamed the Jews for their loss in World War 1 and the bad state of their economy. At first people were reluctant, but eventually the majority of Germans agreed to the scapegoat. Neighbors turned on their Jewish neighbors similar to the village turning on Mrs. Hutchinson. It was the people she saw everyday, the people that she lived with, the people she knew and probably grew up knowing that basically sacrificed her. It was the same way in Germany during World War 2. “‘It was the ordinary German people who were informing on their neighbors (Robert, 8).”’ That analogy is simply a recent historical comparison, but what about a more current analogy? “ By 1948, a new form of international …show more content…
America has been subjected to times where a selected group would be chosen as a scapegoat for cause of their fear and unrest such as communists during the Cold War or Japanese-Americans. “The Lottery” is similar to America in the sense that the country has traditions and supports the tradition wholeheartedly, democracy (ruled by the people). America has ruled with the people in mind. Ultimately, it could lead to the country’s downfall. This is what I believe “The Lottery” is warning the American people. That based on the events that happened within the last ten years, the fall of America could come at anytime. That Americans should be more cautious and wise with the decisions they make for it could affect the outcome of their
This ritual involves a human sacrifice and that this particular ritual is at least the “seventy-seventh year” according to a character (Old Man Warren) from the story (Jackson, 254). Based solely on how long the Lottery has lived, it is safe to assume that it is very successful. The majority of the credit goes to the people who uphold this tradition. Everyone agrees to the ritual, even the children like Davy Hutchinson a son of Mrs. Hutchinson. The tradition will continue to live on so long as the majority of the village recognizes the ritual as a tradition. Similarly, this is what happened in Germany and what was developing in America. In Germany, the Nazi Regime scapegoat the Jews. They blamed the Jews for their loss in World War 1 and the bad state of their economy. At first people were reluctant, but eventually the majority of Germans agreed to the scapegoat. Neighbors turned on their Jewish neighbors similar to the village turning on Mrs. Hutchinson. It was the people she saw everyday, the people that she lived with, the people she knew and probably grew up knowing that basically sacrificed her. It was the same way in Germany during World War 2. “‘It was the ordinary German people who were informing on their neighbors (Robert, 8).”’ That analogy is simply a recent historical comparison, but what about a more current analogy? “ By 1948, a new form of international …show more content…
America has been subjected to times where a selected group would be chosen as a scapegoat for cause of their fear and unrest such as communists during the Cold War or Japanese-Americans. “The Lottery” is similar to America in the sense that the country has traditions and supports the tradition wholeheartedly, democracy (ruled by the people). America has ruled with the people in mind. Ultimately, it could lead to the country’s downfall. This is what I believe “The Lottery” is warning the American people. That based on the events that happened within the last ten years, the fall of America could come at anytime. That Americans should be more cautious and wise with the decisions they make for it could affect the outcome of their