Critical Review Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

1346 Words3 Pages

The theme is present to enable readers to understand the unthinkable rituals people follow in the society. Away from criticizing the very custom obscure right and wrong, the book becomes an avenue of analyzing the traditions, social, and gender divisions in the society. The book vividly illustrates how some families are fortunate while others are less fortunate in the society. The material explains how the emergence of paper money replaced the wood chips. Therefore, it led to the emanating of different classes in the society (Jackson 34). The writer uses the word paper in the book to illustrate the meaning of money symbolically. Additionally, the emblematic meaning explains how money led to the societal divisions. The material expounds how …show more content…

The theme clearly outlines the emanation of societal evils. Additionally, Shirley Jackson explains how lottery and cash meant a fortune to human beings. However, he further explains how the kismet was disturbing (Jackson 34). For instance, if a person encountered a bad fate, the situation was disturbing since unlucky meant losing money or wealth. Consequently, the loss of money or wealth meant the depreciation of class in the society. The author features the ancient village in the story. Moreover, he shows how civilization was slowly shaping. The writer explains how the community members were fond of performing rituals together with believing in mob psychology. He further explains how the ancient civilization transformed people in the society (Ming 320). For instance, the members conducted rituals in which the society evils were transferred to an individual or a group of unwanted people. Therefore, these symbolic rituals meant that the past unbecoming spirits evils were cleansed and the society was left with blessings. The author uses rituals as crucial communal events, which facilitated the communication between the community and the gods (Ming 311). Likewise, he compares the societal rites taken by the community with the Jewish …show more content…

The traditions involve the banishing of the lottery. Moreover, the members of society explain how they are afraid of getting rid of their old boxes because they had a traditional meaning to them. Through the theme of society and class, the town focuses on the old traditions, and they forget to implement the new policies that may enhance their economic growth. Therefore, the author uses the theme of social class and traditions to explain the doomed traditions in the town that hindered their progress. Most of the people in the town embraced the old traditions and those found acting contrary to the traditions were subjected to punishments. Most people in the book were punished because they were going against the town’s traditions. Additionally, those found guilty by the elders were compelled to offer a scapegoat for sacrifice reasons. The narrative, through the theme of society and class, is successful in portraying the society’s traditions and their repercussions on the society. Additionally, the theme of society and class is instrumental in explaining different criteria the town gave thanks to their gods. They usually praised their gods when their land was blessed, but they offered a sacrifice when the land was unproductive as a sign of pleasing their gods. Additionally, people who were reluctant in embracing the tradition of the town

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