Symbolism Behind “The lottery”
When reading a short story the readers imagine the story to be a simple story, and straight to the point, but that is not the case in Shirley Jackson “The Lottery”. In Jackson short story, it keeps readers guessing into the end, but the whole time Jackson gives her readers clues in the form of symbolism. Every character, setting, and objects give readers a glimpse into what the is coming, all readers have to do is recognize that each represent a clue into what is to develop. This story put a spin on content ritual turning it into a curse to be chosen as a winner.
In “The Lottery,” symbolized a ritual or ancient tradition that the town people refused to fight against for a change. “Seems like there’s no time at all between lotteries any more…Seems like we got through with the last one only last week”(Jackson124). It can also represent the enemy because the lottery is not something that any of the town people wants to win. “ The people had done it so many times that they do not listen to the direction; most of them were quite, wetting their lips, not looking around”(Jackson 124). The scared villagers do not one desire to win, but they believe that it is something that have to be completed for the excellent fortune and crops.
Jackson gives her main characters symbolism names like Mr. Graves, Mr. Summer, Dickie Delacroix, Bill Hutchinson, Clyde Dunbar, and Old Man Warner. The Delacroix last name holds a vital clue of the time when the lottery tradition is invented.” This ancient surname is of Roman (Latin) pre Cristian origins. It derives from the word 'cruces' meaning 'cross'” (Al-Julian 32). “These were named after a 'cross' which was set up to indicate a tribal meeting place or perhaps a mar...
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Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery', is a story that is filled with symbolism. The author uses symbolism to help her represent human nature as tainted, no matter how pure one thinks of himself or herself, or how pure their environment may seem to be. The story is very effective in raising many questions about the pointless nature of humanity regarding tradition and violence. 'The Lottery' clearly expresses Jackson's feelings concerning mankind?s evil nature hiding behind traditions and rituals. She shows how coldness and lack of compassion in people can exhibit in situations regarding tradition and values. Jackson presents the theme of this short story with a major use of symbolism. Symbolism shows throughout the setting of 'The Lottery,' the objects, the peoples actions, and even in the time and the names of the lucky contestants.
Michelson, D. The historical reception of Shirley Jackson's "the lottery". In: KURZBAN, Robert; PLATEK, Steve. 18th annual meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. 2006.
Many of the names given to the people by Jackson have some degree of significance in value in relationship to the lottery. Jackson uses symbolism to show and elude the reader of the events that will follow after the lottery is drawn. For example the name Delacroix means “of the cross” in French, but in the story the “…the villagers pronounced this name “Dellacroy”(Jackson). Jackson is showing the mocking of the cross, which in Christian culture is a representation of martyrdom. (Nebeker) Another example is the last-name of the host for the lottery is Mr. Summer’s; this is also the season in which the lottery is held. Lastly the symbolism used for the assistance of Mr. Summer’s is Mr. Graves, which is an illustration of death. Jackson does a good job of symbolizing what is to come after the lottery from the use of names.
What thoughts come to mind when you think of "The Lottery?" Positive thoughts including money, a new home, excitement, and happiness are all associated with the lottery in most cases. However, this is not the case in Shirley Jackson’s short story, "The Lottery." Here, the characters in the story are not gambling for money, instead they are gambling for their life. A shock that surprises the reader as she unveils this horrifying tradition in the village on this beautiful summer day. This gamble for their life is a result of tradition, a tradition that is cruel and inhumane, yet upheld in this town. Shirley Jackson provides the reader’s with a graphic description of violence, cruelty, and inhumane treatment which leads to the unexpected meaning of "The Lottery." Born in San Francisco, Jackson began writing early in her life. She won a poetry prize at age twelve and continued writing through high school. In 1937 she entered Syracuse University, where she published stories in the student literary magazine. After marriage to Stanley Edgar Hyman, a notable literary critic, she continued to write. Her first national publication “My Life with R.H. Macy” was published in The New Republic in 1941but her best-known work is “The Lottery.”(Lit Links or Reagan). Jackson uses characterization and symbolism to portray a story with rising action that surprises the reader with the unexpected odd ritual in the village. While one would expect “The Lottery” to be a positive event, the reader’s are surprised with a ritual that has been around for seventy-seven years , demonstrating how unwilling people are to make changes in their everyday life despite the unjust and cruel treatment that is associated with this tradi...
In the story, Jackson introduces characters whose names are very symbolic to the story. The ultimately foreshadow the climax of the story. There is Mr. Summers who conducts the lottery. His name is significant because the lottery takes place on a warm summer day. There is also Mr. Graves who is the postmaster. He helps Mr. Summers prepare the names for the lottery and helps him conduct the lottery. His name is significant because it foreshadows that there will be a grave because at the end of the lottery some one will die. Mr. Graves is also one of the first people in front of the crowd ready to throw stones. He is ultimately sending her to her grave. This hints that there will be a death during the summer, which is the end result of the lottery drawing.
In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the theme of the story is dramatically illustrated by Jackson’s unique tone. Once a year the villagers gather together in the central square for the lottery. The villagers await the arrival of Mr. Summers and the black box. Within the black box are folded slips of paper, one piece having a black dot on it. All the villagers then draw a piece of paper out of the box. Whoever gets the paper with the black dot wins. Tessie Hutchinson wins the lottery! Everyone then closes in on her and stones her to death. Tessie Hutchinson believes it is not fair because she was picked. The villagers do not know why the lottery continues to exist. All they know is that it is a tradition they are not willing to abandon. In “The Lottery,” Jackson portrays three main themes including tradition, treason, and violence.
The names of each character hold significant meaning to the lottery. Jackson uses symbolic names to indicate and foreshadow what will happen after the lottery is conducted. The name “Dellacroix” (Jackson, 2) has the meaning of “Of the cross” in French. In this sentence, “.the villagers pronounced this name “Dellacroy” “ (Jackson, 2) shows that people pronounce Dellacroix incorrectly, therefore, provoking the Christian symbol of martyrdom. “Summers” (Jackson, 4) is the surname of the conductor of the Lottery.
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The title of the story plays a role in how Shirley Jackson used some literary elements to help mask the evils and develop the story. The title “The Lottery” serves as an allegory. When people think of the lottery majority of people associate it with something good like the New York State Lottery where you can win some money. In the story it is used as a way to pick someone to be killed. In the story everyone gathers in the town square and the town’s people draw family names until a black dot is one the slip of paper. Which