Introduction
Shirley Jackson is a prominent writer, a classic of twentieth-century American literature, and a master of psychological horror. Her literary weapon against injustice and the ugly sides of the modern world is a grim social allegory. The short story The Lottery was written in 1948, and while this fascinating game still exists, the work is emblematic of the violent world of the rural backwoods.
The frightening realism of this story, written with ruthless psychologism, is stunning. This literary piece looks like a verdict on the basest human passions and instincts, which, unfortunately, have become a routine habit. The game portrayed by the writer is a brutal competition for survival, which, despite the title, has an entirely different, sophisticated meaning and consequences.
Comparison of State Lotteries to Jackson’s Lottery
Voluntariness
It is worth beginning a comparative analysis with the aspect of voluntariness. Nowadays, everyone has the opportunity to play the state lottery because one does not need to have significant financial resources to participate. It is enough to have a small amount of desire; that is its beauty and the principal advantage. Anyone can win, rich or poor; the foremost thing is luck and the voluntary decision to take a risk and participate.
However, the case in Shirley Jackson’s story is entirely different, as every citizen must participate in the lottery (Jackson 3). Obviously, residents do not pay money, but they do not have the right to refuse, which is a noticeable difference. Moreover, one of the main attractions of modern lotteries is the number of winners. Several players can receive cash incentives or other prizes, which is undoubtedly positive. At the same time, lottery winners from the story get a special prize — life, games which are strictly forbidden and regulated today.
Mood
Furthermore, it is necessary to analyze the atmosphere and emotions of lottery participants. Nowadays, the game is quite spontaneous; it takes place in different regions at different times, and everyone is free to choose the appropriate option from the numerous available options.
At the same time, the Shirley Jackson lottery is a national holiday, a tradition that happens only once a year (Jackson 3). All residents look forward to it and, despite the cruelty, unthinkingly carry out routine actions. These people have nothing in common with modern-day lottery participants; they feel no joy, sadness, impatience, disappointment, or elation. Residents show no reaction, contemplation, or emotion (Jackson 4). This indicates that Shirley Jackson was not trying to portray a fun game. The meaning of her piece is deeper and more terrifying.
Prize
It is worth noting that Jackson’s purpose is to demonstrate people’s reluctance to reason and their blindness. Her lottery has a genuinely dark meaning, with even children stoning the lottery winner without looking at the apparent inhumanity of the situation (Jackson 3). The game in the story and real life revolves around the lottery ticket. However, while the winner always receives privileges in the modern sense, the lucky ticket drawer at work invariably dies (Jackson 11). The entrenched, cruel social norms described by the writer have nothing in common with the lottery, but make one think about the rationality of actions.
Conclusion
Thus, Shirley Jackson has portrayed a game that, other than the traditional way of pulling tickets, does not meet the modern understanding of the lottery. Everything is absent in the piece: the winning, the joyful atmosphere, the emotions of expectation, entertainment, or disappointment. Moreover, the winner loses their most precious life, which does not correspond to the modern lottery version. Shirley Jackson has a deeper purpose, and her story is a fundamental moral lesson rather than simply describing the fun phenomenon of winning.
Works Cited
Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. Robinson, 1988.