The short story “The Lottery” can be perceived ambiguously, seeming overly cruel. Shirley Jackson masterfully plays with the reader, leaving a lot of understatement and confusion. The bleakness of this short story has given Jackson a reputation as a disturbing and elegant fiction writer (Jackson 19). The plot of the story is simple, frighteningly tragic, and completely illogical at first glance. A lottery takes place every year in a small village. The event seemed festive at first gradually turning into a bloody tragedy. The winner of the lottery must be stoned to death by the remaining villagers.
The story reaches its darkest heat because of Jackson’s contrast technique. The picturesque and quiet village contrasts sharply with the terrible events taking place in it. The reader expects a positive story because of the setting: a warm summer day. The very title of the work promises a story with a positive ending. Although Jackson uses hints, such as the initially unjustified fear of the inhabitants of the black box, the reader cannot predict the sharp turn of the plot. The clash of the reader’s expectations with the opposite ending of the story turns out to be especially cruel.
“The Lottery” is a deep text with many possible interpretations. The story can be read as a reflection on World War II, due to the depiction of senseless brutality. Jackson metaphorically condemns a social system that encourages violence and injustice. The most correct interpretation is Jackson’s desire to show the terrible human capacity for violence, especially when it is justified by tradition and social encouragement.
The existence of a barbaric tradition of violence with the inaction of society is possible since the villagers completely relieve themselves of responsibility for the murder happening. Even the main character Tessie, who won the lottery, rebels not against the tradition itself, but against her death. Jackson denounces society for ignoring violence and disclaiming responsibility for its silent approval.
Work Cited
Jackson, Shirley. The Letters of Shirley Jackson. United States, Random House Publishing Group, 2021.