Shirley Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, describes a tradition in a small town where members draw lottery slips, and the winner is subject to death by stoning as a community sacrifice for good health and harvests. On the other hand, Sophocles’s play, Antigone, follows one girl’s fight against authority for morality and equal treatment of her deceased brothers. Following the plot from the two books, this essay discusses Tessie, Mr. Summers, and old man Warner in The lottery in contrast to Antigone, Creon, and the Blind prophet in Antigone.
In The Lottery, Tessie is the unfortunate community member who picks the winning lottery. Mr. Summers is a businessman and leader in the community and is in charge of the lottery. Lastly, old man Warner is the most senior community member who actively supports the lottery. In Antigone, Antigone plays the main antagonist against the king’s edict for equality and morality. Creon, Antigone’s uncle, is the current king who rules with power, pride, and dictation. Finally, the blind prophet, known as Tiresias, is a seer who warns the king and the people of various calamities.
Tessie
Tessie is cowardly, hypocritical, and insensitive to others suffering. As a community member who is against the brutality of the lottery, she does nothing to prevent previous sacrifices until it reaches her turn. Tessie disregards the practice but feels enthusiastic about the procedure. Tessie’s insensitivity to others’ suffering shows when she points to her family, “There’s Don and Eva, make them take their chance” (Jackson 6), to replace her in being the sacrifice despite being family.
Antigone
Antigone is courageous, strong, and self-sacrificing. From the play’s beginning, Antigone fights for what she believes in despite the consequences of her actions. Antigone tells Ismene, “He has no right to keep me from my own” (Sophocles and Jebb 7) when she refers to Creon’s edict to throw her brother’s body. Therefore, she buries Polyneices, despite the king’s edict to throw his body. After defying the king’s command, she owns up to her actions and dies a heroic death.
Mr. Summers
Mr. Summers is an insensitive leader who supports the lottery and participates fully in the whole process. He seeks to make a new box for the lottery and replace the paper slips with wood chips for convenient continuation rather than stopping the tradition. Also, Mr. Summers’s insensitivity shows when he tells the community members, “Guess we better get started, get this over with, so we can go back to work” (Jackson 3), clearly showing that the above practice is a regular event to him.
Creon
Creon is a self-possessed dictatorial ruler but also shows compassion after reasoning. Creon realizes his mistake of banishing Antigone and goes to release her, but she finds her dead. Also, Creon shows his ability to think wisely and recognize mistakes when he tells his counsel, “I would never be silent if I saw madness creeping among the citizens in place of salvation.” (Sophocles and Jebb, 24). Creon also listens to the advice of the blind prophet to rectify his mistakes by letting the dead rest in peace. Despite his dictatorial leadership, Creon is reasonable and can identify good from the bad.
Old Man Warner
Old man warner is insensitive to others suffering, cowardly, and incapable of realizing his mistake. Warner is inflexible and fully supports the lottery. He considers individuals against the ritual as “crazy fools” (Jackson 4) of the new Age who have no regard for traditions. Warner does not have a family, which contributes to his insensitivity to the suffering and pain of those who lose their close relatives in the lottery.
The Blind Prophet
On the other hand, the prophet is protective and courageous where he faces the king, people from high society, and community members on their wrongdoings while warning of the consequences. He tells Creon, “The city is sick because of your counsel…. For this reason, God will not accept our offerings” (Sophocles and Jebb 34) without fear of receiving punishment. Among the characters in Antigone, only Creon could banter with the king on his misdeeds and bad leadership.
Works Cited
Jackson, Shirley. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.”, pp. 1-7.
Sophocles., and R. C Jebb. The Antigone. University Press, 1900.