The Lottery” is a short story that demonstrates how people blindly follow tradition without questioning its morality. “The villagers in ‘The Lottery’ are so accustomed to the tradition of the lottery that they fail to see how it is a cruel and senseless practice.” “Jackson ‘s use of foreshadowing and irony in ‘The Lottery’ highlights how the villagers’ blind faith in tradition leads to their own destruction.” Introducion Sheirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a chilling short story that has captivated readers since its publication in 1948. The story takes place in a small village on a summer day, where the townspeople gather for an annual lottery. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the lottery is not a pleasant event. I will analyze the …show more content…
Symbolism and the black: The black box in “The Lottery” is a powerful symbol of the villagers’ attachment to tradition and their fear of change. The box, which is described as “shabby’ and “splintered,” has been used for the lottery for as long as anyone can remember. It is a physical representation of the villagers’ history blind adherence to tradition, even when that tradition is cruel and senseless. The box is so old and worn that it could easily be replaced, but villagers refuse to do so, out of a sense of loyalty to the past. In this way, the box becomes a symbol of danger of clinging to tradition, even when it no longer serves a useful purpose. Foreshadowing and the Stones Throughout “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses foreshadowing to create a sense of dread and anticipation in the reader. One of the most powerful examples of foreshadowing in the story is the description of the story of the stones that the villagers use to kill the lottery’s “winner.” At the beginning of the story, the stones are mentioned briefly, but their significance is not explained until later. As the story progresses, the reader begins to realize that the stories are not