Essay on Shirley Jacksons The Lottery - Evils of Society Exposed

The Evils of Society Exposed in The Lottery In Shirley capital of Mississippis The Lottery, what appears to be an ordinary day in a small town takes an evil turn when a woman is stoned to death after winning the town lottery. The lottery in this story reflects an old tradition of sacrificing a scapegoat in order to encourage the growth of crops. But this story is not about the past, for through the actions of the town, Jackson shows us many of the social ills that exist in our own lives. In todays society we often have an all too-casual attitude toward chance Jackson shows us this aspect of human nature through the towns casual attitude toward the lottery. The men talk of rain, tractors and taxes and the women gossipall the meter knowing they argon about to kill someone or be perhaps even be killed themselves (Jackson 863). The thing that is most important to them is to hurry up and finish so they can eat lunch. Perhaps the feeling of being in a hurry makes what theyre about to do easier they dont have time to let it bother them. How often in todays society do we hear the phrase, just hurry up and adhere it over with? The townspeople seem to have mixed emotions about the lottery they fear it yet on a very barbaric level they lie with it. By standing away from the pile of stones, and keeping their distance from the black box, the villagers show their fear of the lottery (Jackson 863). However, once they find out who is going to be stoned, Tessie Hutchinson, they seem to actually enjoy the stoning. One villager picks up a stone so big she can barely carry it someone even gives Tessies youngest son a few pebbles to throw at his mother. Their overall attitude about the stoning is summed up by the phrase and then they were... ...f their family (Jackson 867). In universal life, we posses the same selfish attitude portrayed in the story. What is one of a childs favorite words? Its mine We constantly read well its better you than me and its every man for himsel f. Its pretty scary _when you actually think about it, because you realize we really are that selfish. The Lottery is symbolic of any number of social ills that mankind blindly perpetrates (Friedman 108). The story is very shocking, but the reality of mankind is even more shocking. Isnt it funny that Jackson gives us a description of our nature, and not only do we not recognize it for what it is , but it shocks us. Works Cited Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. unused York HarperCollins, 989. Friedman , Lenemgia. Shirley Jackson. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1975.