The True Nature of Humans It is a beautiful and bright summer day. Though a small village, all of the village people are out and about. They are all waiting for the lottery to officially begin. It seems like an exciting event; people might win money or other prizes. However, it is not a lottery to win something, it is a lottery to decide who will be stoned to death. Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” takes place on June 27 in a small village. Children are seen collecting stones and the men and women are exchanging greeting in subdued tones. There seems to be a hint of nervousness in the air. Everyone is gathered around and an old, shabby box is placed in front of them. The conductor of the lottery begins by calling attendance. The
…show more content…
The barbaric and brutality of humans is seen using the town people as examples. Many do not know the reason for the lottery. All that is known is “there 's always been a lottery” (Jackson 4). The lottery is used as an excuse as Coulthard claims, “it is not that the ancient custom of human sacrifice makes the villagers behave cruelly, but that their thinly veiled cruelty keeps the custom alive. Savagery fuels evil tradition, not vice versa” (Coulthard 1). The town peoples’ bloodthirstiness is what keeps the lottery alive. Right in the beginning the children are making “a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys” (Jackson 1). The children are eager for the stoning. They seem to know nothing about the ritual except that stones are a must. While the children are collecting stones, the townspeople seem to be making idle conversation. The atmosphere doesn’t seem to be of a close net community. Coulthard further backs it up by saying it, “display no genuine human community, no real bond of love. Tessie Hutchinson 's tapping her friend Mrs. Delacroix "on the arm as a farewell" hardly seems a sign of sisterly concern” (2?). When Tessie is chosen Mrs. Delacroix “selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands” (). Her previous relationship with Tessie was all but forgotten. Even her family joined in, “someone gave little Davy Hutchinson few pebbles. Though the rituals of the tradition of the lottery were practically forgotten, "they still remembered to use stones" (). It says a lot that the most barbaric part of the tradition was the most popular. Griffin’s article reiterates the fact, “they do focus, however, on its gruesome rather than its symbolic nature” (), The people were excited, “then they were upon her”, rather than reluctant to murder one of their
The barbaric and brutality of humans is seen using the town people as examples. Many do not know the reason for the lottery. All that is known is “there 's always been a lottery” (Jackson 4). The lottery is used as an excuse as Coulthard claims, “it is not that the ancient custom of human sacrifice makes the villagers behave cruelly, but that their thinly veiled cruelty keeps the custom alive. Savagery fuels evil tradition, not vice versa” (Coulthard 1). The town peoples’ bloodthirstiness is what keeps the lottery alive. Right in the beginning the children are making “a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys” (Jackson 1). The children are eager for the stoning. They seem to know nothing about the ritual except that stones are a must. While the children are collecting stones, the townspeople seem to be making idle conversation. The atmosphere doesn’t seem to be of a close net community. Coulthard further backs it up by saying it, “display no genuine human community, no real bond of love. Tessie Hutchinson 's tapping her friend Mrs. Delacroix "on the arm as a farewell" hardly seems a sign of sisterly concern” (2?). When Tessie is chosen Mrs. Delacroix “selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands” (). Her previous relationship with Tessie was all but forgotten. Even her family joined in, “someone gave little Davy Hutchinson few pebbles. Though the rituals of the tradition of the lottery were practically forgotten, "they still remembered to use stones" (). It says a lot that the most barbaric part of the tradition was the most popular. Griffin’s article reiterates the fact, “they do focus, however, on its gruesome rather than its symbolic nature” (), The people were excited, “then they were upon her”, rather than reluctant to murder one of their