The Symbolism of The Black Box in "The Lottery"

Table of Contents

• The Tradition Behind the Black Box
• Conformity and the Black Box
• The Grim Reality of Human Nature
• Conclusion

Every year, on June 27th, folks in Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery," gather in the town square for a tradition that sends chills down your spine. The black box, which stands out as a central symbol, has a big part in this lottery thing. Let's dive into what this black box really stands for in the story. By looking at its history, how it looks, and how people react to it, you can see that this box is all about tradition, conformity, and some pretty grim stuff about human nature.

'The Symbolism of The Black Box in "The Lottery"'

The Tradition Behind the Black Box

The black box in "The Lottery" isn’t just any old container; it's packed with history for these villagers. It's described as “shabby and faded” (Jackson 1), showing it's been around forever. This box is like a big old symbol of the lottery's tradition, passed down from one generation to another. Its worn look? That’s like carrying the weight of history right there.

Also, this black box is about the shared memory and cultural identity these folks have. It’s their collective knowledge passed through generations. Even when they lost the original box and replaced it, they kept it black. Why? It was their way of keeping a connection to the past. So, this little black box ends up standing for deep-rooted customs shaping how these villagers live.

Conformity and the Black Box

The black box isn't just about tradition; it's also showing off how everyone goes along with the crowd here. Villagers follow this lottery deal every year without questioning a thing—like robots accepting whatever comes out of it. The box? It’s where conformity beats individuality and critical thinking every time.

You see them treating this box carefully because they’re scared something might happen to it. This fear stems from their dislike for change—they want everything to stay as is. The black box then becomes a symbol of their fear of rocking the boat and not questioning if what they do is right or wrong.

The Grim Reality of Human Nature

Apart from tradition and conformity, the black box shows us some harsh truths about people. The lottery itself? It's violent—a person gets picked randomly to be stoned to death! This dark side of humanity gets reflected by that very same black box.

Reactions to this black box vary—some folks are anxious or nervous while others couldn’t care less or seem excited about it all! It's like holding up a mirror showing just how capable people can be when pushed by traditions or peer pressure into hurting others.

Conclusion

So here we are—the black box in "The Lottery" isn’t just an object; it stands for tradition, conformity, and those ugly bits about human nature too. Its old look tells us about how committed these villagers are towards their customs over time while highlighting conformity’s grip on individuals’ thoughts too!

This little piece serves as quite a warning tale: don’t blindly follow traditions without thinking twice first—and consider what might happen if nobody ever questions anything either!

• Jackson, S., (1948). "The Lottery". New Yorker Magazine.
• Kosenko, P., (1985). A Reading of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'. Essays in Literature.
• Friedman, L.S., (1975). The Decline of Faith in Jackson's 'The Lottery'. Journal of Modern Literature.
• Petersen, J.C., (1960). Thematic Patterns in 'The Lottery'. College English Review.
• Moss, J., (1990). Shirley Jackson: A Study of the Short Fiction. Twayne Publishers.