Introduction
Human nature can be appealing and unpleasant, and Shirley Jackson demonstrates how these two form a complex thread in her seminal piece, “The Lottery.” In “The Lottery,” a small village’s strange tradition shows how blind following without thinking can lead to really serious consequences. Although everyone in the village knows each other and should be close, they end up killing one of their own members just because it is a tradition.
This story is different from many other dystopian stories, which usually happen in cities where people struggle to survive. Instead, it is about a small village with three hundred people where it is a choice, and the group’s pressure leads to violence. The story makes us ask if things could have been different if the villagers had stopped to think about what they were doing and why instead of just doing it because they always had. It is about how important it is for people to think for themselves and not just go along with what everyone else is doing.
Story Context
“The Lottery” particularly addresses people’s obedience to tradition and authority in regard to engaging in actions that are today deemed unacceptable. The storyline is set in a small village where the people take part in a strange annual tradition that evokes the horrors of unquestioned customs and culture (Sari and Ajar 11). During this time, the villagers participate in a lottery such that they choose one person to be stoned to death as a sacrificial offering for a good harvest.
Most of the villagers are convinced that this act is essential for the community’s collective health and prosperity. Mr. Summers officiates the event by gathering everyone in the square for the lottery run. The children take it upon themselves to collect the stones, after which Mr. Summers calls the head of each household to a black box to pick their lot. Bill Hutchinson gets a turn to pick his lot, but this is received with much protest from his wife, who tells Mr. Summers that he “…did not give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair” (Jackson 4). Shirley passes across a violent narrative that hints at the essence of tradition and human life.
Tradition
Tradition fosters a sense of community and identity, making it an important component of society. In “The Lottery,” the village is made up of three hundred people, who are close-knit, which is evident in how they relate and are involved in the traditions. The villagers hold the lottery event every year and it takes less than two hours compared to other towns with “so many people that the lottery took two days” (Jackson 1). This tradition is ingrained since it follows the same patterns and sequence, which further highlights the importance of cultural continuity.
The townspeople gather in the square and Mr. Summers officiated the event by conducting the lottery in a black box. The present box consisted of pieces of the one that preceded it, which was made by the first settlers of the village. Thus, the box symbolizes the dark history and culture of the village, which has been passed across generations. While people can be influenced in several ways, tradition holds immense influence, and in this case, the black box. The lottery creates a sense of togetherness, but it becomes apparent that it has a controversial purpose.
The villagers’ blind adherence to the sacrificial practice represents people’s reluctance to question authority or established laws. Old Man Warner defends the annual practice, stating that he has been in the lottery for seventy-seven years and calls those who oppose it a “Pack of crazy fools” and further says, “Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next thing you know, they will be wanting to go back to living in caves” (Jackson 4). Despite the moral implications of the long-held tradition, the villagers embrace it as a norm, demonstrating the complex realities of cultural norms and practices.
Furthermore, the fear of challenging the practice can be due to the reluctance to disrupt the status quo. When Tessie Hutchinson wins the lottery, she protests, “It is not fair, it is not right” (Jackson 5). However, the villagers close down on Tessie, including her family. This shows that some communities prioritize tradition over their rights and respect for another person’s life. Another reason is social isolation, which forces the villagers to conform to the annual sacrificial event. Established norms and customs can perpetual harmful practices, and fear of change heightens the problem.
Blind Following
Blind following can lead to death, as evidenced in “The Lottery”. Questioning the reason behind certain actions or practices people follow as part of their lives is crucial. The concept of blind following can be examined in terms of obedience to authority and as an unspoken duty. Although the reasons behind the lottery event are not provided, the people hold it as a yearly tradition.
The cooperation and active participation displayed by the villagers showcase the community’s attitude toward the practice. They do not resist Mr. Summers’ authority and instead work toward ensuring the day is a success, as seen when the children select the roundest and smoothest stone and “The very small children rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers or sisters” (Jackson 1). The children have been taught to blindly respect the lottery tradition and will grow without forming their own beliefs or opinions regarding the established norms. Developing a healthy identity demands self-awareness and having a clear sense of one’s values and purpose.
Warner’s loyalty to the lottery further shows the adverse consequences of blind following. Despite the violence associated with the tradition, Old Man Warner states, “First thing you know, we woud be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery” (Jackson 3). Warner justifies this tradition without an understanding of its origin but invokes a mythical logic (Robinson 35). When Tessie Hutchinson gets chosen as the sacrifice, none of the villagers come to her rescue.
However, the display of mob mentality is a dramatic shift from their sense of community and togetherness. Typically, this mirrors the impact of blind following as people’s conformity to a set of rules or standards supersedes their humanity. Tessie is stoned to death, and the brutality is more than shocking since her husband does not stop the act. The lottery tradition justifies oppression, which is in contrast to the expected outcome of sharing the community’s heritage while upholding harmony and peace. In this regard, Shirley shows how societal structures systematically suppress people in the absence of adequate representation of those who oppose the set expectations of power dynamics that silence them.
Consequences
The lottery tradition is conducted by the whole community, all in support of how Mr. Summers oversees the event. They willingly pick their lots and complicitly take part in the ensuing stoning. However, this form of collaboration and responsibility proves how blind following contributes to intolerance, suppresses individuality, and renounces personal accountability (Paramitha et al. 119). After the event, the villagers continued with their daily activities as they waited for harvest, with no remorse for the death of a community member, begging the question of their moral compass.
Moreover, older people are often perceived to be wiser and more moral than younger people. The children actively take part in the event since they see their parents and other older individuals prepare for the lottery. Harmful beliefs, behaviors, and norms can easily be passed down from one generation to the next. Moral responses may fail to change as the children get older, and thus, the cycle of sacrificial practice continues. Tessie initially participated in the annual practice without contesting it but challenged its morality when she was selected as the sacrifice for the current harvest season.
Independent and Critical Thinking
Throughout the story, the characters lack independent and critical thinking traits. The villagers allow the lottery tradition to persist despite having adverse effects on families and individuals. Instead of supporting his wife, Hutchinson tells her, “Shut up, Tessie,” and does as Mr. Summers says (Jackson 4). At this moment, Tessie expresses discontent, a brief moment to think critically about the lottery.
Similarly, Davy Hutchinson demonstrates independent thinking when he reluctantly participates in the event, but Mr. Summers tells Harry to hold the paper for him, but “…little Dave stood next to him and looked up at him wonderingly” (Jackson 4). Shirley’s inclusion of Davy and Tessie’s moments of independent thinking underscores the potential of resistance toward an immoral and oppressive system. Conversely, the other villagers lacked independent thinking since they blindly did as they were told. Nonetheless, the story sets the tone of bondage since the villagers are forced to succumb to the consequences of the traditions and take part in the lottery without defiance.
Comparison with Dystopian Stories
“The Lottery” is parallel with other stories and other literary pieces on moral philosophy. In particular, the story relates to other dystopian stories such as “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” These stories explore the consequences of sacrificing individuality and personal freedoms, conformity, and ritualized practices for control and peace. Societies often use fear to maintain peace and order, which can be seen in how Mr. Summers uses his authority to conduct the yearly tradition in the village. Tessie’s death is the result of the community’s involvement and their heedless submission to power (Kabir 32).
In this regard, Jackson’s story and dystopian tales feature societies that use cultural norms and practices to oppress their people and silence them. Characters or heroes that challenge the established quo may face consequences or enmity from others as a result of their disobedience of authority (Mon 18). Tessie’s objection to the lottery practice from the husband and the community and lack of support enable Jackson to engage with the moral paradox of society. In essence, “The Lottery” and dystopian stories serve as a reminder of the dangers of conformity.
People should have the autonomy to engage in any activity and question authority when they fail to align with acceptable morally and ethically acceptable behavior. While “The Lottery” shares certain themes with dystopian stories, there are certain differences in the authors’ narrative approach and story setting. The voluntary participation of the community in the event further sets “The Lottery” apart from dystopian stories that often feature characters who are forced to conform.
Dystopian stories are often set in oppressive regimes, but “The Lottery” is set in a small village where community leaders use tradition as a tool to control and suppress individuality. Despite stress and worry from some, every family, including the kids, congregates in the square and takes part in the celebration (Hakaraia 11). Old Man Warner backs Mr. Summers, who expects to receive no resistance from the villagers. Jackson builds tension around the real protagonists or heroes since Tessie is ultimately killed and is unable to persuade the villagers to discontinue the practice (Sekartaji 94). The central issue within this story remains unresolved, which is in contrast to most dystopian narratives where protagonists rebel and bring change.
Conclusion
Shirley Jackson illustrates the dark side of society and tradition in her narrative. The narrator shows the underlying tension between the villager’s blind following and the use of traditional practices to preserve culture, identity, and community values. The villagers continue to participate every year without the knowledge of its origins and lack of full comprehension of its consequences on families and the whole community.
Each character within the story engages in a moral paradox, with Tessie appearing as the key protagonist but with a limited role since she was complicit until it was her turn to act as the village’s sacrificial lamb for that harvest season. Societies use norms and traditions to justify certain actions, and individuals can promote positive change by resisting and challenging practices that silence suppress their individuality.
Works Cited
Hakaraia, Teresa. “Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery,’ and William Empson’s Seven Types of Ambiguity.” Humanities, vol. 8, no. 137, 2019, pp. 1-14. Web.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery“. Robinson, 1988.
Kabir, Nihal Farhan. “Evaluating the Values of the Sheepish Slaves: A Synthetical Analysis of “The Lottery” and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” in Light of Nietzsche’s Ruminations.” International Journal of Literature Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, 2022, pp. 29-35. Web.
Mon, Thin. “Exploring Actions and Personality of the Characters in the Short Story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.” Dagon University Research Journal, vol. 11, no. 3, 2020, pp. 16-25. Web.
Paramitha, Novalita Pradnya. “Social Domination and Marginalization in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery: Critical Discourse Analysis and Appraisal Study.” Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistic, vol. 6, no. 1, 2021, pp. 111-124. Web.
Robinson, Michael. “Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Holocaust Literature.” Humanities, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, pp. 35. Web.
Sari, Fani Alfionita, and Ajar Pradika Ananta Tur. “Reshaping the Society Face through The Culture of Horror Told in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery.” Notion: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Culture, vol. 1, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-7. Web.
Sekartaji, Maya. “Utopian Delusions in Shirley Jack-Son’s “The Lottery”: A Psychoanalysis Approach.” Alphabet, vol. 5, no. 2, 2022, pp. 93-101. Web.