The Lottery: a Theme Analysis

Imagine an Idyllic Town

Picture a tiny, perfect little town where everybody knows everybody else, and traditions are a big deal. One of these traditions is the yearly lottery, something everyone looks forward to. But if you’ve read Shirley Jackson’s story "The Lottery," you know that this event isn’t as innocent as it seems. The story digs into what happens when people follow traditions without thinking about why they do it and shows how people can be cruel. Let’s dive into this theme and see what blind tradition-following can lead to and the dark side of human nature it uncovers.

The Power of Tradition

The whole idea of the lottery shows just how much grip tradition has on folks and communities. You can tell people in the town get pretty hyped up for the lottery; it's like a big event for them. Jackson creates suspense by talking about the lottery over and over. She starts with, "The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely, and the grass was richly green" (Jackson 1). Sounds like paradise, right? But this nice picture doesn't fit what really goes down, pointing out how blindly people accept this strange tradition. By mixing in bright images with such a creepy event, Jackson shows how strong tradition's hold can be on us—even if it’s against our best interests.

The Dangers of Blind Obedience

Another big theme here is what happens when we follow traditions without questioning them. As you keep reading, you find out that whoever wins this lottery gets stoned to death by their neighbors. That twist makes you stop and think about whether sticking to old ways is always good or not. One character says, "They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery" (Jackson 5). Even though other villages start questioning this practice, folks in this town just go along with it. This highlights how dangerous following traditions blindly can be—it keeps harmful habits alive and stops progress in its tracks.

The Dark Side of Human Nature

A huge part of "The Lottery" is exposing that scary side lurking inside us all. The lottery becomes a way to show off just how mean people can be. As things move forward in the story, there's more tension and you get this uneasy feeling. Jackson mentions how "Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones" (Jackson 7). Over time they forgot why they did it or even some parts of it but remembered enough to keep doing something awful. It points out that even in seemingly perfect places, darkness is waiting under the surface.

Wrapping It Up

So, Shirley Jackson's story gives us lots to think about regarding traditions, obeying without question, and our darker instincts. It’s kind of like a warning—reminding us to look critically at what we do every day and ask ourselves if these habits are really worth keeping around or if they're causing harm instead. By pushing her point through throughout "The Lottery," Jackson leaves us with stuff that sticks long after we finish reading. We’ve got to take a good look at our customs, making sure they're in line with what’s right rather than letting bad practices continue unchecked.

• Jackson, S. (1948). The Lottery.
• Moss, J., & Wilson, M. (2016). Tradition vs Progress: Exploring The Lottery.
• Saunders, G., & Lee T.D., eds., American Short Stories Collection.