The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis of “The Lottery” Laws are set in order for society to function; however, when the boundaries of law are pushed to extreme lengths they can cause more harm than good. Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” illustrates rules putting society at risk. This can be shown through formally analyzing the narrative elements within the text. By examining key aspects of the plot along with multiple characters Jackson implements the message of rules and tradition being corrupt.
The beginning paragraph starts by describing the village in which the lottery takes place to be “clear and sunny” as well as its flowers to be “blossoming profusely” (Shirley Jackson). This forms an initial image within the reader's mind of a beautiful and happy neighbourhood. In the following paragraph, Jackson explains that the young boys in the community were contently “[making] a great pile of stones in the corner of the [town] square” (Jackson). Later on in the text the stones are used to excessively beat a member of their

Mr. Summers the man in charge managing the lottery each year. Summers is described as a “round-faced, jovial man”; however, in reality he is the man who gives approval of the murder following the draw (Jackson). Jackson used the last name “Summers” as a symbol of appearance vs. reality. While appearing to be a humble, modest, average member of society, Summers is arguably the most spiteful and guilty character throughout the story. It is challenging to infer what Summers true motives are: while in some areas of study Summers can be deemed a true believer of the lottery tradition, others might say that he is more power driven or driven by malice. Regardless of what motivates Summers to continually run the draw, he is still organizing murder within his community, thus, he too has been a tool to portray faults within the law of this