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Summary Of Shirley Jackson's Short Story 'The Lottery'

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Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” contains several powerful messages. First, Mrs. Hutchinson’s selfeshness is exposed through her actions. “‘There’s Don and Eva,’ Mrs Hutchenson yelled. ‘Make them take thier chance!’” Mrs. Hutchinson was willing to sacrafice her own family to make her chances of survival greater. Mrs. Hutchinson’s selfishness blurred her values and connections with the ones she loved. Furthermore, peer pressure also blurred many people’s values in this story. “The children had stones already. And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles.” Shirley Jackson illistrates how deeply rooted the pressure to participate in the sacrifice was in this community. The pressure and feeling of being obligated to continue

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