The Use of Symbolism in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

Conformity and Tradition

Symbolism can really amp up a story, can't it? In Shirley Jackson's famous tale, "The Lottery," symbolism is like the secret sauce that makes us think about how humans can be kind of messed up and how traditions sometimes go on autopilot. Jackson uses different symbols to show us what happens when people just follow the crowd without thinking. This essay will dive into these symbols and their meanings in the story.

The Black Box: A Symbol of Conformity

First off, there's this black box where folks draw tickets for the lottery. It's all beat-up and worn out, kinda like those traditions that just won't die. The villagers are weirdly attached to it; they don't wanna fix or replace it. This box shows how people stick to old ways even if they're not good for anyone. And those stones they use in the ritual? They’re like a big neon sign saying everyone’s involved in this mess together. Each stone means someone is joining in the violence, showing how peer pressure can make people do bad stuff.

The Dangers of Blind Obedience

Next symbol on our list is the marked slip of paper. When you pick the one with the black dot, your number’s up—literally! It’s crazy because it shows how dangerous it is to follow rules without asking why. This paper isn’t just paper; it tells us anyone can become a victim at any time. Plus, calling this thing a "lottery" is so ironic! Usually, you think of winning something awesome, but here it's all about death and destruction. It flips what we usually think about lotteries upside down and makes us wonder if we're sleepwalking through life.

The Subversion of Expectations

Jackson really plays with our heads using these symbols to twist what we expect from the story. You start reading and think it's gonna be about friendly small-town life, right? Wrong! By the end, you're hit with a shocker that forces you to see how dark ordinary communities can get under the surface.

A Universal Message

The cool thing about these symbols is how universal they feel. The black box or the paper slip could pop up anywhere, making us look closer at our own lives and ask if we're following traditions blindly too. It's like Jackson is nudging us to see that these themes aren't just fiction; they’re part of every society.

Conclusion

In wrapping things up, "The Lottery" uses symbolism to hit home some big ideas about going along with tradition without thinking, violence lurking in everyday life, and how dangerous blind obedience can be. With symbols like the shabby black box or those stones, Jackson paints a scary picture that stays with you long after you've finished reading. It’s a wake-up call reminding us all to question our traditions before it's too late.

• Coulthard, A.R., "Jackson's 'The Lottery'," The Explicator, vol. 48 no. 3, Spring 1990.
• Kosenko, P., "A Marxist Critical Reading," New Orleans Review 12 (Spring 1985): 27-32.
• Moss, J., "The Function of Violence in Short Stories," American Literature Studies Today (2018).