Shirley Jackson is the author of the short story called “The Lottery.” When reading this story, the reader could possibly believe that they are able to foresee the ending. “The Lottery” takes place in a small town, with a population of about three hundred people, on June 27 at ten in the morning. Jackson provides the reader with visuals that range from the town gathering and getting ready for the lottery to the town kids playing outside and collecting rocks. The importance of this lottery is that is not what it comes off to be, instead it is an act of sacrifice that is believed to be important in order to keep society stable. This story is very similar to rain dance rituals of the Aztecs and other old civilizations. In “The Lottery” whoever
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Although “Bentham” hardly plays a role in the story, Jackson decided it would be a great idea to incorporate the name as a citizen known by Anderson Bentham because he was in the drawing to win the lottery and essentially there was a possibility that he could have won and been the chosen one to sacrifice himself for the good of others. “Bentham” comes from the last name of Jeremy Bentham, a utilitarian philosopher, and he believes utilitarianism is a philosophy where happiness is the main goal and that all ethical decisions must be made with the idea of what brings the most happiness to people, so Jackson decided to put this name into the story on purpose because that would be the idea if you have a lottery with a utilitarian standpoint then you would have to sacrifice yourself willingly and proudly for the good of others, because it will eventually lead to the most happiness for the most people. Other names in the story that are rather symbolic are: Mr. Adams, who is at the very front of the crowd and also throws the first stone when the stoning starts, he is named after Adam, the first man created by God and Old Man Warner, who is constantly warning the citizens of the town about the better
Although “Bentham” hardly plays a role in the story, Jackson decided it would be a great idea to incorporate the name as a citizen known by Anderson Bentham because he was in the drawing to win the lottery and essentially there was a possibility that he could have won and been the chosen one to sacrifice himself for the good of others. “Bentham” comes from the last name of Jeremy Bentham, a utilitarian philosopher, and he believes utilitarianism is a philosophy where happiness is the main goal and that all ethical decisions must be made with the idea of what brings the most happiness to people, so Jackson decided to put this name into the story on purpose because that would be the idea if you have a lottery with a utilitarian standpoint then you would have to sacrifice yourself willingly and proudly for the good of others, because it will eventually lead to the most happiness for the most people. Other names in the story that are rather symbolic are: Mr. Adams, who is at the very front of the crowd and also throws the first stone when the stoning starts, he is named after Adam, the first man created by God and Old Man Warner, who is constantly warning the citizens of the town about the better