The Lottery

This story seems to take place in a time where people lived in villages and the villages were governed by one person only. This lottery is a tradition in this village and others that surround it. No one has moved to terminate the lottery because there is comfort in numbers. The idea is that if the townspeople are cruel enough to continue the lottery, what would they do to the person trying to stop it. As the villagers are gathered, they discuss the fact that others surrounding villages have quit the lottery. Mr. Summers quickly pipes up with remarks as to how they're crazy and the idea of quitting the lottery is preposterous. These comments reinforce the feelings and beliefs that no one is to suggest quitting the lottery. What's silly about this lottery is that every other part of it's tradition has been long forgotten and the stoning activity in addition to the villagers gathering in the square are the only events left to the lottery that are consistent. No one seems to remember what the purpose is. The black box is sometimes stored underfoot and other times stored on a shelf.

I compare this to my job in a way. We have frequent call ins at work, and it's always the same people who call in. The rest of us who are dependable get mandatoried for an additional four hours upon our already twelve hour shift. Yet, no one says anything. They just keep letting these people miss work, while everyone else makes up for their irresponsibility