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The Use Of Foreshadowing And Irony In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

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“The morning of June 27th was a clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day;” (Jackson) In the story “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson writes in a tone that is detached from what is about to happen later in the story. “Jackson does not interject into the story any ethical commentary, but rather challenges readers to find their own meaning.” (). When everybody in the town even the children are supposed to participle in the event the readers think that the story is horrific and start to think if the characters have morals at all. Throughout the entire short story Jackson uses foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to depict the fate of the towns people. Shirley Jackson uses foreshadowing to conclude the violent ending. For example, when the children are putting rocks in their pockets. It may seems innocent because kids play with rocks all the times but the rocks are for stoning people to death. . When Mr. Summer says, “though we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie.” (Jackson) Because only Tessie was late finishing are house work foreshadows that she is the one to die at the end. When men usually gather they are loud and creating a lot of noise, but on this day, they only joke and smile quietly. …show more content…

The shabby black box represents fate. It decides who lives and dies so that the rest of the people that are alive would have a good harvest. “Although it is old and shabby, the villagers are unwilling or unable to replace it, just as they are unwilling to stop participating in the lottery.” () The stool represents God. Son, and The Holy Ghost. The stool supports the black box meaning that religion and fate determine the outcome of the people. The black spot on the paper. The color black is associated for death and the person with the black spot on their paper

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