What do the critics say about the lottery?
They are those who see the story as a traditional narrative and those who see it as a modern-day parable. Critics who read “The Lottery” as a narrative tends to agree that the surprise ending was faulty and the lack of character development made reader identification difficult.
What is the message of the lottery?
The primary message of Shirley Jackson’s celebrated short story “The Lottery” concerns the dangers of blindly following traditions. In the story, the entire community gathers in the town square to participate in the annual lottery.
What are the opinions of at least two townspeople regarding the lottery?
The lottery in Jackson’s story necessarily sets one townsperson against the rest of the community, so that the community participates willingly (or so it seems), while the unlucky chosen member of the town feels wronged by being chosen.
Who assembles first in the lottery?
Again the children are the first to gather for the ritual, piling stones as if they were playing a game without understanding why. As the villagers begin to attack the victim of the lottery, „the children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles”(Jackson 1948: 680).
Why is Mrs Hutchinson upset in the lottery?
Hutchinson upset? Mrs. Hutchinson is upset when she draws the slip of paper with the black spot because this indicates that she has “won” the lottery, meaning she will become the town’s annual sacrifice.
What does Tessie Hutchinson symbolize in the lottery?
Tessie is symbolic of the scapegoat in “The Lottery,” which is sacrificed in ritual atonement for the sins of the tribe. However, she is also an average member of the tribe who sees nothing wrong with the system until she is selected.
How does the lottery affect Tessie Hutchinson and her family?
Answer: Near the end of “The Lottery,” Bill draws the slip with the black spot in the first round, which means that someone in his family will be stoned to death. This immediately begins to cause tension within the family and between Bill’s wife Tessie and some of people in the assembled crowd.
What is the symbolic meaning of the stones in the lottery?
Stoning is one of the oldest and most common forms of execution (417). The stones symbolize death, but also the villagers’ unanimous support of the lottery tradition. Even as Tessie protests the drawing, the villagers collect their stones and move into throw them.