The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

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“The Lottery”: A Critical Analysis

The Constant

The Lottery is a story written by Shirley Jackson that criticizes the unreasonable thinking of people. The main idea recurring in the story from start till the end is considered as its constant. The constant of this story is “lottery”, or the proceedings of the ceremony held for finding out the result of the lottery. All activities shown in the story are directed to reach that awaited climax. The lottery is held every year in the community presented in the story. People have associated many beliefs with this lottery. They believe or pretend to believe that the lottery helps them out resolving their severe problems.

Many incidents occurring in the story indicate different stages of the ceremony held for executing lottery. People start to gather at one big open place to participate in the lottery. They all know what is the purpose and end of this ceremony. A big black worn-out box is placed among the crowd to grant them with their destiny, if they are to live or die. The head of each family comes forward and takes their respective slips. Slips are opened and their destiny is written down in those pieces of paper. Finally, the lottery decides who has been chosen by fate to become the object of cruelty. The proceeding of the lottery proves to be the constant of this story that makes all sense and stance.

Structure

The structure of the story is traditional wherein the writer gradually builds a stage for the desired climax. The story begins with the description of a clear morning and all seems to be set alright. People do not show any hustle and bustle as it should have been in view of the upcoming story ending. Gradually, the reader starts feeling some sort of doubtful things. For instance, when young boys begin to gather stones in their hands, or as Mr. Summers makes it confirmed if all have got their respective slips, the reader doubts something is not right. The ceremony of conducting the lottery consumes all the time of the story. The exhibition is lengthy, and the plot describes it in full detail. People want to know the result of the lottery. The tension in this story starts building when the name of Mr. Hutchinson gets the slip that is an indication of the ill-fate. Mrs. Hutchinson sorts out a way to escape this situation by saying that Mr. Summers did not let her husband select their respective slips comfortably. They are, henceforth, given another chance to make the selection of slips. Mr. Hutchinson once again takes the slips out of the box, and distributes one on one in his family members. As they start unfolding their slips, they find out ultimately that Mrs. Hutchinson is the one who has been left at the very last number in the whole community. This is the tensest point in the story when Mrs. Hutchinson finds her ill fate standing in front of her, and she feels entirely helpless in the hands of her heartless, cruel, and almost mad people of her community. The climax of the story comprises the killing scene of Mrs. Hutchinson, which is in itself a heart-wrenching action carried out by the people of her town. She is eventually murdered and the reader is left thwarted with all hopes lost for the safety of her.

Theme

The story is based on the cruelty that is inherent in human beings deep down inside their very nature. People who are involved in the brutal killing of Mrs. Hutchinson were ordinary folks of a local town. Even then, they behave like typical savages who are devoid of any brains or hearts. Shirley Jackson wants to portray a savage society that is ill, plagued, and terrible. ““It isn't fair, it isn't right,” Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her” (Zhu et al.).

Works Cited

Zhu, Xinyi, et al. “Leisure Activities, Education, and Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.” International Psychogeriatrics, vol. 29, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 727–39.