Literary Analysis of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay Example

📌Category: Literature, Shirley Jackson
📌Words: 654
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 19 April 2022

Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery depicts a small England community where the citizens are eager to participate in the “lottery.” Jackson’s The Lottery consists of the ideology of “not me, but thee” meaning a majority of the participants of the violent event were content with participating in the action, but no one wanted to be chosen. The theology of “casting stones” employed by attacking or belittling others is not an old tactic, but a continuous one, even applying to today’s society. People, just like the participants who were involved with the “lottery” are ready to see the demise of others, while elevating themselves. Relationships, families, and even friendships are in jeopardy of failing to this dangerous philosophy. Actions from a person who was considered a friend but then talked behind “your back” at the first opportunity, that partner who said, “I never loved you” or even a person who bullied others, so they wouldn’t get “picked on”, are prime examples of this. People are eager to “throw stones” at others but no one wants to be “stoned.” 

Tessie Hutchinson is the best example throughout The Lottery of the hypocrisy that occurs in society when it relates to the treatment of people. Mrs. Hutchinson was noted for showing up late, and even making humorous and light conversation before the drawing of the “lottery.” Mrs. Hutchinson’s preliminary actions detail to readers she was unconcerned about “the lottery”, thinking she was not going to be affected but as well as having an apathetic attitude directed towards her fellow town-members. Moments later succeeding “the lottery” Mrs. Hutchinson’s attitude drastically changes; from a nonchalant attitude to describing how the event was unjust. Mrs. Hutchinson’s drastic attitude is essential to detail due to the fact, it emphasizes to readers the action of stoning others was acceptable but once the “tables were turned” to which she was placed in the same position as someone else was then it became unfair. Mrs. Hutchinson relates to people today in society who are self-centered, not caring about the well-being of others, just themselves. Consider a person who antagonizes another person for fun, a bully. Oftentimes bullies “throw stones” making life worse for other people, so in return, they will not be bullied. A person who demonstrates bullying techniques is like Mrs. Hutchinson; only having their self-interest at heart.  

Davy Hutchison, the son of Bill and Tessie Hutchinson, is found near the end of The Lottery and readers may mistakenly view the youngest member of the family as having a miniature part concerning The Lottery, but this is simply untrue. At the beginning of the narrative, the text details how the group of children was gathering stones, and near the ending, the passage describes how Davy was handed a handful of little rocks to throw at his mother Ms. Hutchinson. These two sets of events portray how violence and violent-related events are taught, often at an immature and youthful age. Little Davy had little or any comprehension of the events that “the lottery” foretold, but by the group of children, and little Davy learning violent techniques such as the ones previously laid out, is teaching him, the lottery violent acts are normal and should be considered acceptable. To better understand the impacts of learning about hate and violence that is taught, consider when a child at a young age is continually exposed and taught about hating another race contrary to their own, after a substantial amount of time that child will begin to believe hating people or “throwing rocks” at people who do not look like them as proper, and when the child is older, they are likely to participate in a racial event. Simply, what people are exposed to, and taught at a young age has proven to be very influential. To substantiate the preceding claims the passage states, “The pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready; there were stones on the ground with the blowing scraps of paper that had come out of the box. [...] The children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles” (). Just as little Davy demonstrated in The Lottery, violence and hate are taught, typically early on in life, and it continues to be extremely impactful. 

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