"The Lottery" - Everything is not as it seems

Does Shirley Jackson give us “The Lottery” to serve as a symbol of horror in a world torn apart by indifference to our fellow man, or does Jackson just give us an interesting story with a strange twist? The setting is a little town on a beautiful morning, ”clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (405), making the reader believe that a sweet story is on the way. What Jackson actually does is to hit us in the face with an ironic twist, proving that everything is not always what it seems to be.

In a quaint village square “between the post office and the bank” (405), a symbol of anywhere USA where June Cleaver may be baking cookies in the kitchen, the villagers meet to carry out a bizarre ritual referred to as the lottery. No one questions the ageless tradition because “there’s always been a lottery” (405). When someone does talk about doing away with the lottery they are put down by Old Man Warner, calling them “a pack of crazy fools” (405). This old man has been through the lottery 77 times, so the tradition is just a part of his existence. Just as his name implies, Old Man Warner is always warning the town of the danger of doing away with the lottery.

It is very interesting to note that the black box, the ultimate symbol of doom, and the one thing that seems to represent the tradition of the lottery to the villagers, is given very little respect during the 364 days of the year that it is not needed. It is stored “sometimes one place, sometimes another” (406). This extremely important icon is treated with total disregard every day except June 27^th, when it is treated with reverence. Why doesn’t it have a permanent home throughout the year? Perhaps it is because doom is not relegated to one place and one time, but is everywhere and all the time if we are unfortunate enough to be in its way. Like the slips of paper, and the black spot that announces the “winner” of the lottery, life is a chance that can bring us good or bad tidings; it is luck of the draw.

For Tessie Hutchinson, who comes running into the square still wearing her apron, showing that she is just an everyday person doing everyday things, her luck is about to run out. As her family draws the unlucky slip of paper showing that one of her own will be stoned to death, she is visibly and vocally upset. Her husband seems to be upset by her reaction telling her to “shut up, Tessie” (409). She is upset and concerned for her family, he is just one of the crowd wanting to get it over with. Tessie’s luck has run out as it is determined that she is the one to be stoned to death, making her realize that being one of the sheep and blindly following tradition is wrong as she screams “it isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (411). It is too late for her, but what about the rest of the world?