The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story that examines the role of conformity in society. The protagonist, Tessie, is forced to participate in a tradition that she does not understand and does not want to be a part of. The other characters are conformists who blindly follow the tradition without questioning it.
The story highlights the dangers of blind conformity and how it can lead to terrible consequences. The ending is shocking and unexpected, which serves to underscore the point that conformity can have devastating consequences. The Lottery is a classic example of social commentary and it still holds relevance today.
The setting of the story, a small, insular community, suggests that even when a society may be ignorant of evil, it is still present (for example: the Harlem Riots; the terrorist attacks on September 11; and the Rodney King beating). The identical ritual has been taking place in The Lottery for years. It appears as if the community never learns from its prior mistakes. Nothing will alter until someone in town draws attention to this macabre annual tradition.
The conformity in The Lottery is so strong that Mrs. Hutchinson, the woman who has been chosen to die, doesn’t even realize what is happening until it’s too late. The other villagers have all blindly followed tradition without questioning it, and they are not willing to change now. The lottery shows how powerful the force of conformity can be in society.
It can make people do terrible things without thinking twice about the consequences. The villagers are so afraid of going against the norm that they are willing to kill one of their own. Jackson’s story is a warning about the dangers of blindly following tradition and not thinking for oneself. Society can be very harmful when it demands conformity from its members.
We may still be living in a segregated world if Martin Luther King or Malcolm X had not spoken out against the preconceptions they had endured their entire lives, implying that we could have been living in such a world. This is comparable to The Lottery, in which the citizens of Hamptons are indoctrinated into thinking that this custom is acceptable. Old Man Warner becomes enraged when he learns that the north village intends to give up the lottery, calling them a flock of lunatics.
The only person who seems to realize the true meaning and horror behind The Lottery is Tessie Hutchinson. She begs for someone, anyone, to stop the lottery, but no one listens. The townspeople are so afraid of change that they are willing to stone an innocent woman to death just because its what theyve always done. The story is an excellent example of how people can be brainwashed into doing anything, as long as they believe that its right. Shirley Jackson does an excellent job of portraying the effect that conformity has on society.
Rosa Park is a hero to the African-American community. She was the only black woman among millions who had been riding on the back of a bus for years, and she had the bravery to question so-called authority. The small town as background represents societies unwillingness to change and stupidity as a whole in refusing to ask questions about something that has been going on since Day One.
The square is also the place where the public executions take place. The black box is a metaphor for death. The lottery is a metaphor for the lynching of African Americans. The black man who was chosen in the story was probably chosen because he was the only black person in the town.
The villagers arent just conformist, theyre downright psychotic. The fact that they gather around and cheer as someone is being hanged speaks volumes about their twisted mindsets. The story is a commentary on how society will go to any length to avoid change, even if it means sacrificing innocent people.
Shirley Jackson shows how people can be brainwashed into following orders without question, even if those orders go against everything that they believe in. The story is set in a small town to represent how small towns are more prone to conformism than big cities. The public executions are also a way of showing how the townspeople are willing to kill in order to maintain the status quo. The black box is a metaphor for death and the lottery is a metaphor for the lynching of African Americans.
The story is a commentary on how society will go to any length to avoid change, even if it means sacrificing innocent people. Shirley Jackson shows how people can be brainwashed into following orders without question, even if those orders go against everything that they believe in. The fact that the villagers gather around and cheer as someone is being hanged speaks volumes about their twisted mindsets.
Whether it’s the symbolism of the rusted nails, or using a mirror to reflect your own flaws, this poem is all about putting self-discoveries behind you and moving forward. The poem’s tone is reflective, even meditative at times. As the opening lines suggest, we can learn something from everything that has happened in our lives—even if we’re not willing to accept it right away. Maintain humility and sensitivity towards people; end naivety; use one another as an example (as a learning tool).
In The Lottery, Shirley Jackson uses the lottery as a metaphor for conformity in society. The townspeople are so afraid of being different that they are willing to blindly follow tradition, even if it means sacrificing someone’s life. The lottery is just one example of the many ways that people conform to societal norms.
They may not be able to admit it, but most people are afraid of standing out and being different. This fear leads to a lot of self-censorship, and ultimately, a lack of creativity and individuality. Shirley Jackson shows us that conformity can be dangerous, and it is important to question authority and think for ourselves.
For instance, the 77th lottery Old Man Warner has taken part in; the stool with three legs where the black box sits; and the lottery being held on June 27th. Ironically, Jackson had The Lottery published on June 26th, most likely expecting a riot to break out the next day, June 27th, when it did. The anger of readers was clear but their interest was piqued by this basic, brief narrative with such a profound message. It is undoubtedly an awakening for conformists and an anthem for non-conformists.
The Lottery is a prime example of conformity in society. Conformity can be defined as the act of following others or being similar to others. The people in The Lottery are conforming to the tradition of the lottery, which has been taking place for as long as anyone can remember.
The characters do not question the tradition, even though it is barbaric and outdated. They simply go along with it because that is what everyone else is doing. The characters in The Lottery are afraid to stand out and be different, so they all conform to the same standard. This conformity creates a sense of unity among the townspeople and allows them to function as a group.
