What does the lottery say about tradition?
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a powerful argument against ritual and tradition. She is not arguing that all traditions and ceremonies are inherently evil. What she is showing us is that following a ritual mindlessly can lead people to evil acts.
Why is the lottery a tradition in the village?
The elaborate ritual of the lottery is designed so that all villagers have the same chance of becoming the victim—even children are at risk. Each year, someone new is chosen and killed, and no family is safe.
How does the story end what does this annual event the lottery say about the culture of this village?
The village lottery culminates in a violent murder each year, a bizarre ritual that suggests how dangerous tradition can be when people follow it blindly. … Old Man Warner is so faithful to the tradition that he fears the villagers will return to primitive times if they stop holding the lottery.
What is the culture in the lottery?
The Lottery, written by Shirley Jackson, shows that Pagan culture and belief still stick to the life of the villagers in this literary work. The elements of Paganism are seen from the Lottery, the ritual, which is the heritage of ancient culture.
What is the moral of the story of lottery?
The moral of the story is that simply because something has always been done does not mean that it is beneficial and should be continued. One key theme of “The Lottery” is the danger of tradition and blindly following along. … They don’t quite recall how the lottery started.
Why is tradition so important in the lottery?
Yet, subtle hints throughout the story, as well as its shocking conclusion, indicate that the villagers’ tradition has become meaningless over time. What’s particularly important about tradition in “The Lottery” is that it appears to be eternal: no one knows when it started, and no one can guess when it will end.
What is the main conflict between a character and society in the lottery?
Expert Answers
The main conflict of this short story is character versus society because it is society that insists upon the continuation of the lottery as a tradition, and it is this tradition—upheld by society—which is responsible for the brutal end of Tessie Hutchinson ‘s life. We can see how attached this…
Why does Tessie say that the lottery is unfair?
Tessie thinks the lottery is unfair because she won. If someone else won, she would not have complained at all. This is an example of situational irony in that the readers do not expect that the winner of the lottery will be killed.
What is ironic about the description of who holds the events in the lottery?
Answer: It is ironic that Mr. Summers puts on all the fun events. The reader would expect the lottery to also be a fun event, when really it is a horrific event.
Why was Tessie late at the gathering to hold the lottery?
Why was Tessie late to arrive at the gathering to hold the lottery? She started to leave town to protest the lottery. She ran away but was caught and returned.
Jackson’s work examines the issues such as human cruelty, social sanctioning of violence, as well as marginalization leading to victimization. These themes encompass specific traditions, practices, and laws that lie at the heart of the work’s meaning.