Sacrifice In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is a shocking story where a small town holds a lottery to determine who will be the chosen one for their yearly human sacrifice. In the end, the person who gets picked by the lottery is stoned to death by the village. Jackson uses little setting, symbolism, and P.O.V to paint an oddly disturbing theme: refusing to change a towns tradition and religious way of thinking can be lethal. Jackson gives the reader little information with setting on where the town is located and only describes certain things. “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” (Jackson, 373) this shows a mid-day in summer

The reason they picked up smooth stones, because it would be a slow death with the flat surface and rounded edges. Unlike the weathered rough and sharp rocks, it would be a fast death. Jackson indicates that the children find this uncharacteristic activity normal in this murderous event, and that the children easily follow the elders. These next two objects used in this story, are both religious. The black box is used to draw pieces of paper for the lottery, which is it rested above a three-legged stool.” The postmaster, Mr. Graves, followed him, carrying a three- legged stool, and the stool was put in the center of the square and

Rather than telling us what the characters are thinking or feeling, the narrator just simply shows the process of the lottery unfolding. This further emphasizes the shocking nature of the ending, as the readers only indication of the lottery's true purpose is from the villagers' nervous behavior.” The children assembled first, of course. School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play…. Soon the men began to gather. surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes. They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed. The women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk. They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands.” (Jackson,373) when it time for the lottery everyone change their demeaner, and stands in line like a flock of sheep waiting to be