The Lottery by Shirley Jackson shares an atmosphere which is very normal and friendly in the beginning by addressing some festive event to be celebrated by the village where all the people are curious and excited for the reward.
QUESTION
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson shares an atmosphere which is very normal and friendly in the beginning by addressing some festive event to be celebrated by the village where all the people are curious and excited for the reward. The people are gathering in bulk to share that moment and the children are picking stones and chasing each other for some sort of excitement which is normally seen to exist with the nature of a lottery. But later, as the story moves ahead, it becomes scary and horrible when it is concluded that the reward of the lottery id death of the winner. This reflects a sense of sickness in the minds of people to get stuck with the traditions even if they are wrong and illegal to follow.
In my views, the story is based on the era of American rural communities in mostly the mid 20th century where the rural community leaders hold the decision power and their decision was considered as final which was not challenged by anyone. This was a story which demonstrates an era of rural dominations and cruelty followed by the villagers or people by the name of tradition and customs. The challenges faced by the people, which is unfair and cruel and even the people do not have the courage to stand against those traditions and blindly following them at the cost of their lives. This is hence a very mind blowing story in which the author has changed the atmosphere to the complete reversal as the story concludes.
Example
I agree with you on the role of radio as a symbol in the story. In addition to the symbols you discussed, I found a confounding relationship between the appearance of the two radios and the families in the apartment. First, the old radio represents an element of innocence, love, and inner greatness despite the deteriorating outer appearance. Equally, the families remained intact and appeared comfortable and happy. Just like the old radio, as challenges increased, inner happiness and love began to fade and the outer appearance, which is overly expensive, began to take shape. The new radio appears neat with glowing colors that attracted anyone which symbolically represented these families. However, chaos, confusion, secrets, evil plans, conflicts, and war resided on the inner side of the radio. Perhaps accessing the inner part of the families constituted the knowledge and reflection of Jim and Irene’s inner selves as was understanding the content on the radio.
ANSWER
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is a chilling tale that starts off with an atmosphere of normalcy and friendliness but takes a dark turn as the true nature of the lottery is revealed. The story begins by portraying a festive event in a village where people eagerly gather for a chance at a reward. The atmosphere is filled with curiosity and excitement, with children playing and enjoying the anticipation of the lottery. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the reward of the lottery is not something to be celebrated but rather a horrifying death for the winner. This shift in atmosphere reflects the sickness in the minds of the people who blindly adhere to traditions, even when they are morally wrong and go against common sense.
The story can be seen as a commentary on the rural communities of mid-20th century America, where the decisions of community leaders were unquestioned and considered final. It portrays an era of rural domination and cruelty, where people follow customs and traditions without questioning their validity. The challenges faced by the characters in the story are unfair and cruel, yet they lack the courage to stand up against these traditions and blindly adhere to them at the cost of their lives. It is a thought-provoking story that exposes the dangers of mindlessly following traditions and the power dynamics that perpetuate such practices.
Additionally, the story can be analyzed through the symbolism of the radios. The old radio represents innocence, love, and inner greatness despite its outward deterioration. Similarly, the families in the apartment initially appear intact and happy, much like the old radio. However, as challenges arise, the inner happiness and love start to fade, and the outer appearances, represented by the expensive new radio, take precedence. The new radio is visually appealing and attracts attention, just as the families try to present a perfect image to the outside world. Yet, beneath the surface, chaos, secrets, conflicts, and evil plans reside, mirroring the inner turmoil within the families. The radios serve as a metaphor for accessing the inner selves of Jim and Irene, as understanding the content on the radio represents gaining knowledge and insight into their true selves.
Overall, “The Lottery” is a powerful story that skillfully manipulates its atmosphere to create a sense of dread and to highlight the dangers of blindly following traditions. It sheds light on the oppressive nature of certain social systems and encourages readers to question and challenge established norms.
