Controversy In The Lottery

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Pages: 5
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Marissa Garcia
Mr. Wells
English 4-AP
21 April 2017

Controversy In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson In “ The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, there are many reference to history along with controversial topics and actions. The topics addressed in the story involve conformity, tradition, rituals, and horror. The short story incorporates morbid history and showcases conformity between other people. By exploring other references we can better understand the work as a whole and how the author pieced the story together. When analysing “ The Lottery” the story is found to be a simple story yet very complexed. Every detail has a meaning behind it and is history in the story for a reason.

Conformity- In The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, The act to …show more content…
Rituals are seen as positive and beneficial to the person or community doing them. In “1984” the citizens have to follow a routine or daily rituals told to them by big brother and the other leaders everyday. The ritual of the lottery is once every year instead of daily and was most likely brought upon by former government. The reason of the ritual in the story is more selfish compared to the Aztecs, in the Aztec society “...the act of sacrifice...was a strictly ritualized process...regarded as a necessity to ensure mankind's continued prosperity”(Cartwright). The ritual of the lottery is an example from the aztecs but also completely different in terms of belief and …show more content…
The horror of kids being placed as a sacrifice against their parents is striking and very cold. Bill pulls his three children in and the different ages dont matter to the citizens or the parents. The act of conformity is morbid as “friends” and family don't stand up for the children. The traditional ritual of sacrifice is chilling to observe and be a part of. The Aztec sacrifices were known as “...bloodthirsty…”(Cartwright), the thought of the townsfolk being eager to stone Tessie is seen as bloodthirsty. The conformity of the story being close to the “Crucible” is morbid, but brings out a historical understanding of the sacrifice. The people who are born into the lottery have no right to decide if they want to participate, or they can't speak out so the conformed because that is what they were brought into and the ones coming in don't know any other way of life. The horror of the lottery hasn't been changed because of tradition and it will probably never be
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