Choose a quotation or passage from the story and explain why this quotation stands out to you. Perhaps you want to ask a question and then try to answer it. Perhaps it reminds you of another story we've read and you want to explore that connection. Perhaps the language stands out to you for some reason. Maybe you want to look at setting. Write a response of at least a lengthy paragraph. Then, reply to a classmate's comment. Agree or disagree, and take the conversation a step further. Even try to use textual evidence to support your stance.
Here are some sentence starters for you:
"I wonder why..."
"I am reminded of..."
"I think it's important that..."
"I was struck by..."
"I realized that..."
"I don't understand..."
I thought “The Lottery” was a brilliant way to show the hypocrisy of humans and the evil in all of us in a comedic fashion. It wasn’t that Jackson story was funny more that her lighthearted approach to such an unusual form of evil was an excellent tool. The tradition of stoning one person, who is elected by lottery, was not what I assumed from the first few pages of text. People are cheerful and children are playing, there is little fear until the actual drawing of the lottery. Jackson’s ability to so naturally entwine this level of cruelness into everyday life is flawless as well as purposeful. She uses the fact that the lottery is tradition to present the idea that we don’t question our routine; this is due to the fact that humans are creatures of nature (structure, order). The nonchalant style of the very symbolic gathering of the rocks is one of the eeriest parts of the story, when in the end you learn their purpose. Hypocrisy is demonstrated throughout the story and is a major underlying theme of the story. Quotes like “there’s always been a lottery” and (in reference to quitting the lottery) “there’s nothing but trouble in that” show how because it has happened for a certain amount of time people accept such cruelty with open arms. The story takes a surreal turn for the reader when you see how calmly the towns people react when they find out that they are going to stone a neighbor, the lack of dissatisfaction from her children and husband goes even further in suggesting how every one is “ok” with the situation and because it is so routine it is never questioned even though it is obviously wrong.
ReplyDelete"Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones." This quotation, which appears near the end of the story, distills the lottery down to its essence: murder. The villagers may talk of tradition, ritual, and history, but the truth—as this quotation makes clear—is that the traditional parts of it have long been discarded. The original ritual and box may indeed have borne along a tradition, violent and bizarre as it may be, but now, without the original trappings, songs, and procedures, all that remains is the violence. The haphazard ritual, the bits and pieces that have been slapped together into some semblance of the original, have led to this essential moment of killing. The villagers are all too eager to embrace what remains, eagerly picking up the stones and carrying on the “tradition” for another year. This reminded me a lot of "Lord of the Flies" that I know we haven't read yet, but I did in the sixth grade and it made me think of the ways that they had to change their lifestyles to more simple things. Simply because the more complex way that they were used to doing it was just impossible in the new area. Tradition is just not able to survive in both cases.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your quote analysis. Although this seems as a tradition it really is just a plan for murder. To me a tradition should be celebrated in a fun way and this is far from fun in my POV. The villages are basically brought together by murdering someone which is just horrible. Instead of coming to celebrate a happy tradition, which I guess to them it is, it is coming together to see who won't make it out alive at the end.
DeleteAt the beginning of "The Lottery"Jackson describes the day as a clear and sunny on with a fresh warmth of a full-summer day. But, as I read further into the story I didn't see anything sunny or warm! At the very end of the story Jackson writes, "It had a black spot on it, the black spot Mr. Summers had made the night before with a heavy pencil in the coal-company office. Bill Hutchinson held it up, and there was a stir in the crowd."(6) When I think of someone holding something up it is normally a trophy/medal which stands for winning and being proud and happy that you've just one something. It stands for an accomplishment. But in this case, Mr. Hutchinson is holding his wife's "death certificate". Why would he be proud to hold this up? If this was me I would hate my husband for doing that. Is this just the ritual though? It seems a little cruel though to be holding his wife's ticket to death and sort of seeming proud and waving it around to show the crowd.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think it had become such a big part of their culture that it almost doesn't faze them that it is cruel and inhumane. Jackson talks about how the new box has been around longer than Old Man Waren, who is 77 years old, which shows just how long this community has been doing The Lottery.
DeleteI found it extremely depressing that the people of the village maintain the tradition murder however they remember none of its origins and reasons for it. "Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones." Why choice to promote murder instead of understanding the ideals and decision that went into their predecessors starting this ritual.
ReplyDeleteI agree, if the villagers didn't know the origins behind their rituals, why would they continue these murders that really have no significance to them at all.
DeleteYes, I agree (I used that quote too). I think that they were just getting back to the basics which I felt you mentioned that in the last sentence.
DeleteI agree that the citizens of the town should not blindly follow this inhumane ritual without even understanding why they kept doing it in the first place.
DeleteLily Cook
I think that you make a really good point here. They don't know why they even had this tradition and they have altered the non important things so many times, but they still keep the most terrible part of it. Do you think it's because the murder is really the main part of this tradition? Maybe they don't really see it as that much of a bad thing anymore but more of just a normal thing.
DeleteGreat observation which I agree with. Why should they keep this ritual so sacred and important, but yet so horrible in this community if they don't know how and why it came about.
DeleteI believe this story is a perfect example of a dystopia that seems like a utopia. In the beginning of the story the villagers seem so harmless and innocent, "They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed." But in the end you find out that the lottery is really a stoning. What Jackson is trying to point out (or maybe even poke fun at), is that people almost blindly follow these rituals, and never question why they are doing what they're doing. The village people never wonder why they are going on with these rituals, maybe because it is simply just easier not to ask questions. This story reminded me a lot of the book The Giver because of blind the people are to what happened years ago. They were sheltered from all the memories of bad things like war and poverty, but also good things like Christmas and snow. Everything seemed perfect in the beginning, but at the end it was the exact opposite.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree and I'm stunned by the change from a town meeting to a public murder. And I really like you labeling the things that makes this civilization a false utopia.
DeleteI agree with this very much because like you mentioned, tradition turned out to be very important in this story. I like how you point out that the people of the town never wonder why they are performing these rituals because it has been their tradition for years and it's all they know.
DeleteI think this story is a dramatic version of how people of power or government organizations use fear to influence their followers. It reminded me of the Hunger Games a little bit, just the first part when everyone in the district is waiting for whoever's name is going to be called. A passage that stood out to me was when Tessie Hutchinson wait "You didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't far!" and then Mrs. Delacroix said "Be a good sport, Tessie". This was interesting because even the towns people treat this ritual as a "sport", which is pretty messed up because it involves murder of other people, which shouldn't be referred to as a sport, but this happens because the people are desensitized to the killing that goes on.
ReplyDelete-Lily Cook
Lily you did a really good job and i agree with your idea that the "be a good sport" line was strange and seemed unusual for such a substantial result.
DeleteI agree with you analysis! I was also reminded of the Hunger Games when reading it. I didn't catch the quote that you mentioned, now that you pointed out the word choice of the quote, I see it in a new way!
Delete"Bobby Martin ducked under his mother's grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones. His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby came quickly and took his place between his father and his oldest brother."
ReplyDeleteI think this line does a really good job of summing up gender roles and how effect they are in the community and/or society of "The Lottery." There is no doubt that society suppresses woman and idealizes men, in this village. The sentences I chose show this can effect families and how the next generation already thinks of woman as lower then men, because they were raised with these morals. The younger generation in this story are already starting to play into these gender roles, at such a young age. At the beginning of the story, the children are playing outside and just like they should be the boys are being active, while the girls talk silently in small groups. Gender roles are so important in this story because it makes the community a dystopia, when from the outside this community looks like it would be a utopia.
Ella, I totally agree with this. From the start I saw that there was a split in the way men and women were treated. I think it is a really important part of the story and a really strong idea. You summed it up very nicely! Great job!
DeleteLila Winfrey
C Band
The quote that stood out to me was, “Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box” (2). This quote demonstrates that although the black box did not play a significant role in this tradition, the people refused to upset the aspects of the tradition as a whole. I wonder whether or not the humans of this village are really concerned of upsetting this tradition, or if they are just afraid of having to question a practice that is widely accepted in the community. Through this quote I am reminded of the short story, “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings;” in both stories the villagers are afraid to question the rules set by their societies because they don’t want to stand apart. In fact, when the north village considers giving up the lottery they are regarded as a “pack of crazy fools” by Old Man Warner. The villagers rather fit in rather than question the negative aspects of this tradition.
ReplyDeleteAna you did a great job in analyzing this quote.I too wondered why the people in this society do not want to break the traditions while reading the story.
DeleteI totally agree with you on their whole issue with tradition! It just popped up every other minute in the story, and it kind of makes you wonder why it is so important to them. Are they scared? Do they have nothing else to rely on?
Delete"'All right,folks,'Mr. Summers said. 'Let's finish quickly.'"
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised that all the towns people went along with this cruel tradition without even questioning what they were doing. I though it was very strange how people could just throw stones at one another, and not care. There is no background to why this became a tradition, so it makes it harder to fully understand why this is happening. Even though this is a fictional story, it is hard to believe that this would take place, it is such a horrifying act. And I think that the fact that the towns people don't question what they are doing, makes it all the worst. I can defiantly connect this with "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" because of the same sort of idea about society questioning power and belief. In both stories, the societies go along with the conflict and don't ask why.
Lila Winfrey
C Band
Lila i think you did a really nice job at portraying the village as a dystpoia. You also took such a small line and got so much out of it, way to go girl!
DeleteYou did a very good job and I agree with what you said. You also do a great job with your quote and alot of information showing how this village is a distopia.
Delete-Marcello Brattesani
One quote that stood out to me was when Old Man Warner said, "It's not the way it used to be. People ain't the way they used to be." This made think how was it before? But than this quote made me think of the quote,"...Constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here. What caused the first people to create this system? This reminded me of the line in class"We do not shape our society;society shapes us." When a group of people come together for the first time they shape society, but when the society is already shaped than society shapes us.We see this in the "Lottery" when everyone wants to keep this tradition of killing one another,when they don't even know the real background behind it just because their society shaped them to keep with this tradition even if they don't know how it began.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement. The society that was already created has shaped these villagers into following the set of rules that have already been given to them.
DeleteThe quote that perked my interest was when Old Man Warner said "People ain't the way they used to be." This stood out to me, because how did the people used to be, kind and living in a utopia. This quote shows how their socciety has changed to a distopic socciety. This quote(not just this quote, but this story) made me think of the Hunger Games because it was a ditopia and everybody was against eachother when it displayed the option of killing another indvidual.
ReplyDelete-Marcello Brattesani
I also thought of how people may have acted, but I viewed Warner saying that because he didn't want to see the lottery taken away, because that was his reaction to the removal of the lottery in some places. It reminded me of the Hunger Games too, but in this it seems like everyone is close in the community, and this is something that they choose to do, where in the Hunger Games they are forced to do it by the government.
Delete"'Well, now,' Mr. Summers said soberly, 'guess we better get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work."
ReplyDeleteThis stood out to me because it seems so nonchalant. Mr. Summers is trying to hurry on with the lottery, which ends in the gruesome death of a village member, so that they can go on with their daily lives. I think that it's crazy to be able to do that to one of your friends and/or family members without hesitation. How are they all just so accustomed to this? It's most likely because they don't know any better. They grew up this way and don't think it's wrong. But it still makes me wonder why. If it is so natural to them, then why are the younger girls hoping it's not their friends? It's hard to imagine a society in which they are so easily able to kill one of their own and then go about with their daily lives. They have gotten so good at it that they can do it in a couple of hours and then move on with their lives. I believe that they all know it's wrong but they feel obligated to continue because it's a tradition that they don't want to ruin. I find this odd because I don't think that any of them know where this tradition originated from or why especially since they've altered it so many times before.
"'Some places have already quit lotteries,' Mrs. Adams said. 'Nothing but trouble in that,' Old Man Warner said stoutly." This quote really surprised me because there were people in this community that found this whole process of the lottery to be of tradition and of value, and would actually be upset to see it go away. In the beginning of the story, the people act as if the Lottery is something that they all are used to, and as if it is something that doesn't seem to be that out of the ordinary. There was no evidence that anyone found the lottery to be inhumane. But once Mrs. Hutchinson gets picked for the lottery, she starts to cry about how it's unfair, and only then does an inhumane aspect kick in to the story. I don't see how Old Man Warner could find this process stupid to get rid of, especially when it inflicts harm on a family per year, with no benefit to the community. This place sounds almost entirely like a dystopia though, with distorted views of community, and different ways of living.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I also found it interesting that Mrs. Hutchinson only speaks out against this ritual for her own salvation. She even offers up her family members as fear is instilled in her. Jackson shows human nature as Mrs. Hutchinson argues and does everything in her power to stop the stoning. It seems to me like a dystopia also, with the citizens blind to the wrong doing. Not only this, but it greatly reminds me of the Hunger Games as a person gets called up to be in a fight to the death battle without choice.
DeleteIn "The Lottery" the beginning quote really stood out to me because it gave it was a great example of a dystopia "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"(1). This makes us believe that this is such a perfect place to be living in and that the lottery is a good thing in this community that it brings everyone together. Yet, it brings everyone together to watch something horrible: the stoning. This quote foreshadows the horrors of what to come a bit because of the setting that the author describe, because the setting and the society seem to perfect and wonderful there is a sense that not everything about this place is as great as it seems to be.
ReplyDeleteYou explained that really well! I agree the first quote does lead readers to believe that everything is wonderful, the amount of perfection almost makes you become suspicious about it, and then when you continue to read you find that it really isn't.
DeleteOne quote that stood out to me was "Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones" (6). This quote stood out to me because I found it interesting how they were able to remember to stone one of their villagers to death, but they unable to the traditional things, like the songs, that went along with it. It just showed that were more concerned about that violent aspect of the lottery, then their traditions. Also the stoning scene relates back to "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings", when the townspeople were torturing the old man while he was trapped in the cage.
ReplyDeleteNice Mykala I like the quote you chose to analyze and I like what you said yes I agree the villagers remember about the killing the savagery but not the practical things like singing the ritual the tradition, so its becoming less formal and more about the excitement of killing.
Delete"... she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. 'It isn't fair' she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head." Was I the only one screaming when they read this? You can literally feel the terror this woman is experiencing at this moment. It's a horrifying thing, really, to have the whole town gang up and throw stones at you until you drop dead. What's even more terrifying to me is that the whole town knows that the point of the lottery is to eventually eliminate one of their own at random, in this brutal way and yet they do nothing whatsoever about it. It's sick! They treat this event as if it were some sacred religious holiday or something. One thing that resurfaced a lot was the fact that the lottery was a tradition that had been started by the people who started the town in the first place. The fact that the cling to this tradition so fervently solely to preserve that fragment of their culture is just kinda sad to me. They just don't know any other way, or rather they have word of another way and simply refuse to accept it. Its terrible to be blind to the world, blind to reason like that
ReplyDeleteShelli Acevedo
C Band
Shelli- I agree. I found that one of the scariest parts of this story was the fact that, just like you said, these people don't know any other way of living. Sometimes tradition is hard to be seen as good or bad because no body really knows an alternative. I think that it takes people like Tessie to speak up and show the community how bad and "unfair" some traditions can be. If this continues in the community I'm positive that more and more people like Tessie will rebel. It only takes someone willing to risk everything in order to make a point and make things different.
DeleteThe quote that stood out to me as I read through this short story was one on page one: "School was recently over got the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while... their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands." (1) I feel as though this quote sets up the whole basis of the community they live on, where even the kids, when given freedom, are unsure and scared to use it. They talked of the "reprimands" showing me that they are used to rules and punishments much like that of the lottery. Also, this quote juxtaposes how kids are in our society today, they take the freedom they have away from school and their chores, etc and don't question it one bit, which also shows me how old fashioned this society is and how it later leads to the very strange ritual we see this story based on. The children in most stories are the playfulness of a community, but in this story they are scared to even be that.
ReplyDelete"... she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. 'It isn't fair' she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head." Was I the only one screaming when they read this? You can literally feel the terror this woman is experiencing at this moment. It's a horrifying thing, really, to have the whole town gang up and throw stones at you until you drop dead. What's even more terrifying to me is that the whole town knows that the point of the lottery is to eventually eliminate one of their own at random, in this brutal way and yet they do nothing whatsoever about it. It's sick! They treat this event as if it were some sacred religious holiday or something. One thing that resurfaced a lot was the fact that the lottery was a tradition that had been started by the people who started the town in the first place. The fact that the cling to this tradition so fervently solely to preserve that fragment of their culture is just kinda sad to me. They just don't know any other way, or rather they have word of another way and simply refuse to accept it. Its terrible to be blind to the world, blind to reason like that
ReplyDeleteShelli Acevedo
C Band
I too thought this passage was very disturbing, especially how bluntly Jackson described such an awful event taking place. I also agree that lottery is pretty horrifying but I think that it may serve more of a purpose than just to "eliminate one of their own at random" like you said. It also doesn't seem to me like there is evidence of any other kind of culture present, as all the people seem to be fairly similar and the lottery could present a break in everyone's similar life.
DeleteTradition plays a huge role in this story. Firstly, the black box with the many slips of paper was stored in a safe over night. The extra steps taken to protect the box illustrate how important it is to the village that the box remains untouched until they need to use it. Furthermore, when told that another village may stop performing the lottery, Old Man Warner snorted, "Pack of crazy fools...Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way fir a while." Not only does Old Man Warner getting rid of the lottery is crazy, but he thinks it's as ridiculous as going back to "living in caves." This proves to me how important the tradition of the lottery is because the oldest man in town, whose been there the longest, cannot fathom the idea of the lottery not happening.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Ilan. I agree that it is very interesting how important this tradition is to the people of this town. Even more interesting to me is that no one seems to know why this tradition is important or of such value. Perhaps not so violent, but in our own society there are many traditions that the origin of or reason for their existence is unknown, or even irrelevant to us. But we obey simply because its tradition and tradition does not change and we do not question it, shamefully.
DeleteA reoccurring idea that really got me thinking when I read this story was the struggle between man and woman. It seemed to me that no matter what circumstance the village was under, the men were always seen as dominant and responsible and the women with a simply responsibility: to follow around their husbands and do as they are told. I found it such an odd coincidence that Tessie, Bill Hutchinson's wife, was the one "chosen" in the lottery. Of all the people in their family to have the piece of paper with the black dot, she did. And, coincidentally, it was her who seemed to be rebelling against the system. From the moment she arrived late to the lottery I could immediately sense a disrespectful vibe. The Lottery seems to be an event that everyone in this world knows and is familiar with, how could she forget about it? On page 3, Tessie gives an explanation for arriving late, "'Wouldn't have me leve m'dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe?'"
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this quotation was meant to be read the way that I did, but I I saw it as almost blaming and rude towards the husband. And after having read the story I now know that in this village, men always are seen as above the women. And the way she framed her excuse for being late seemed disrespectful to the man, or maybe that was her motive. I think it's interesting that Tessie was the one to be chosen. Maybe it wasn't by coincidence, maybe it was punishment for speaking out of place.
From Lupe:
ReplyDelete"The Lottery" is a very intriguing short story in which the reader becomes fooled in a way that it is unexplained. At first, the author tricks the reader by creating this utopia-like village where everyone is happy and united. Then, you find out the truth about this whole thing, the fact that the townspeople stoned a person to death in a ritual called the Lottery. This surprised me the most because how can people be okay with this. Is there even any type of humanity anymore?The fact that a person's life is chosen among slips of paper is crazy. I was struck by Old Man Warner's comment about the young folks who decided to stop the Lottery. "Pack of crazy fools, listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while..." (4). The way Old Man Warner talks about these young folks seems like he strongly hates them. At the end of quote, Old Man Warner continues on ranting about how the decision has "nothing but trouble in that". Although Old Man Warner's opinion shocks me, I understand why he does not "change his ways" to become more humane, in my opinion. I think it is because it a tradition. Sometimes, it is hard to change from the "daily routine". For example, slavery used to be considered a good thing until about 100 years later when someone spoke against it. This relates to the Lottery because then, in that society, the Lottery was a good thing as well. Although it seems unethical to us, that is only because we are more open minded, more opinionated, and more radical. All of this makes me think about what is considered "right" or "wrong". Will our opinion change about right and wrong in the future, like it did with slavery?
After reading the short story the quote that stood out to me the most was "Mr Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition was represented by the black box"(2). To me this seems outrageous seeing as though this black box represents the tradition of the lottery and the illogical loyalty that the villagers have to it. The black box is nearly falling apart, the box isn't even black anymore after so many years of use. The villagers are unwilling to replace it though and they they are attached to it because of a story that claims that this black box was made from pieces of the preceding black box. Also I find it crazy how people are willing and excited about stoning someone to death who can ultimately be you or any of your family members! This just goes to show how cruelty, and evil are part of human nature.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with how outrageous it is to see a tradition fall apart. I feel that this ties into a bigger part of human nature. When a group of people come together, they can share common interest, they can start their own traditions. Generation after generation the traditions continue and people stop discussing the purpose for something being so. Thus, this new generation would have new opinions and new ideas and change/modernize the tradition to their likings for their own purposes. You can see this a lot in culture, religion and many other aspects of life. Good observation on “The Lottery” I can defiantly go back and find more evidence on changing tradition.
DeleteI find it interesting that Mrs. Hutchinson is only critical of the lottery when she is directly suffering from it. In the beginning of the story, she jokes with the conductor of the lottery and mingles with other people, acting carefree as if there wasn't a terrible thing about to happen to someone. However, her view of the lottery changes dramatically when she is on the receiving end of it. When Mrs. Hutchinson is about to be beaten with the stones, she screamed " 'It isn't fair, it isn't right' ". The author demonstrates that one does not truly understand peoples pain until they experience it.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your analysis. I was interested in the same thing, The townspeople seem so passive about this event when they are not being directly affected by it. Before the drawing. people murmur about ending the lottery but they still participate. If the townspeople were truly angered by this event they would stop participating or make a strong effort to end it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the chilling last few sentences of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," a particular part stands out to me: "Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones." To me, this represents the meaning of this short story at a whole: a comment on tradition and the human reluctance to question why things are the way they are, savage or cruel as they may be, they will remain accepted in society. What this quote is saying is that the people of this village don't even have any recollection, or perhaps even knowledge of why this tradition befalls on them over and over again, but even as it is an atrocity, it is accepted as that is the way things have always been for these people. I think this story has a great moral which, which is to encourage us to argue and use our reason to question and understand why our society is how it is. In addition, just because things are widely accepted and seen to be okay or right in society, it certainly does not mean that they truly are, as proven in a rather extreme case in "The Lottery," and this cannot be overlooked.
ReplyDeleteOut of all the disturbing things in "The Lottery", I found the first sentence the most troubling: "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"(1). Jackson most likely started with this cheerful first sentence because it makes the rest of the story seem so much worse. I started out with a pleasant image in my mind, but as I turned each page, that image became gloomier and by the end I was extremely disturbed. A lottery is usually a happy thing that wins people prizes, but this lottery grants the "winner" death. I was extremely puzzled as to why the community would even need this lottery. Its not like it helps overpopulation, since there is only 300 people and the death of 1 person makes no impact on the population. So I came to the conclusion that it was purely a part of their culture. I think it had become such a big part of their culture that it almost doesn't faze them that it is cruel and inhumane. Jackson talks about how the "new box" has been around longer than Old Man Waren, who is 77 years old, which shows just how long this community has been doing The Lottery.
ReplyDeleteI am still unclear whether Jackson is trying to say that humans are by nature cruel and enjoy the demise of others, or if he is saying a "mob mentality" leads humans to become cruel.
Aleeza, your quote choice was analyzed well and showed me a good perspective of what Jackson's intentions were towards the reader. You have a great conclusion of why this town is acting the way they are. I agree and think the importance of their tradition and culture is exactly the reason. We even see how much power the culture has over the people when Tessie speaks up against he system and how she is ignored and overpowered.
DeleteI am reminded of "Araby" by James Joyce when I read, "School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them..."(Jackson 1). This reminds me in the first paragraph of "Araby" when the school boys were "set free" after school. Its intresting how both authours, to me, imply that school was a place of being captive and away from doing what they truly want. For example, for the boys in "The Lottery" want to go and choose the "roundest smothest stones". Likewise, the boy in "Araby" wanted to admire his love but was a way from her while in school. Thus, keeping him away from his enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the short story, one early line was stood out to me and seemed to say a lot about the mindset of this village. For the children, "School was recently over for the summer and, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them;". Before finishing the story this unusual line seemed interesting and of course very relevant to the cruel and surprising resolution of the story. The children of the society in the beginning are feeling the freedom of being out of school yet to them, the discomfort of the lottery is among them. in capturing the thoughts of the community, we see that they all feel uncomfortable and seem to know they have a lack of freedom. Sadly, these people feel the wrong in their actions yet still stay true to tradition.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Lottery" I think Shirley Jackson is constantly stressing and displaying the difference between the male and female members of the village, particularly showing how the men had all the power and respect in the community. Jackson writes: "Soon the women, standing by their husbands, began to call to their children, and the children came reluctantly, having to be called four or five times. Bobby Martin ducked under his mother's grasping hand... His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby came quickly". This passage stood out to me for a few reasons. Firstly, Jackson says that the women stood by their husbands, which I think is implying a female dependency on men. Secondly, the children were reluctant to listen to their mothers, and needed to be called "four or five times". Bobby Martin didn't listen to his mother at all, but as soon as his father asked him to come, he reacted immediately.
ReplyDeleteCezar i agree, you have a really clear and strong point. The emphasis on the relationship between male and female characters are definite and your evidence backs up your argument. I think you should elaborate a bit more on all of your quotes. Maybe even talk about what devices the author used to make the differences in the gender roles evident.
DeleteShirley Jackson's "The Lottery" displays a gruesome tradition found in a paradoxical society. Throughout the entire story there are subtle refrences to humor, laughter, and jokes. Mrs.Delacroix and Mrs. Hutchinson- soon to be executed by her own neighborhood companions- "both laughed softly". This is a complete paradox because just minutes later the poor mother was stoned to death. One of the children supplyin stones, Bobby Martin, "ducked under his mother's grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones". I think it is important to pay attention to the use of words and symbolism, for example, the the stones the chidren fetched correspond to the balck dot on the final drawing paper.Jackson infuses the story with hints of laughter to give readers a sense of relief, especially because of the detrimental plot twist in the last few lines.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by the author's stark contrast between the beauty of the day and the cruelty of the 'sport'. The quote that first jumped out at me was: "The lottery was conducted--as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program--by Mr. Summers." I was amazed that not only were people able to tolerate this man throughout the rest of the year, but they actually look to him to plan cheerful family events and parties for their children. I have difficulty fathoming their ability to like and trust this man. I feel as though his presence would unnerve the townspeople because he is associated with such a horrible event. However, the townspeople seem almost unaffected by this ritual unless they are the victim. I know that Mr. Summer is not the cause of creator of the lottery but without him the ritual might fade away over time due to the lack of a strong leader.
ReplyDeleteFrom Olivia:
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the Lottery, it says that it was a clear and sunny day. As you continue to read on though, the day turns out not so nice. As I was reading, I also noticed how the author uses gender roles a lot. "Mrs. Hutchinson said, grinning, 'wouldn't have me leave m'dishes in thesink, now, would you, Joe?". This line from the text is demonstrating how the woman would stay home and clean and take care of the house while the men would be out and about the town. Also, when Mrs. Dunbar drew for her
husband, Mr. Summers asked her if she has a male to draw for Mr. Dunbarinstead. I was also taken a back by how the story ended. Throughout reading it, I was thinking that whoever got the special slip, would have to do something bad; such as leave town or give away all of their food. I was not expecting murder to take place. It made me go back and reread certain parts of the text, which now make much more sense to me. Such as
the part where the kids were collecting stones and putting them in piles. That was sort of disturbing to think that children were collecting stones to kill someone with; and not only that but actually throw those stones at whoever "won" the lottery. One of my biggest questions after reading this story is this: what is the purpose of the Lottery?
I agree with your first statement, Olivia! I also noticed that the story started out with such a lively and happy setting with the words "sunny" and "fresh warmth summer day".
DeleteWhen reading the "The Lottery", the character who first stood out to me was Tessie Hutchinson. We are first introduced to her when she was "hurrying along the patch to the square her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into place in the back of the crowd." For some reason, this led me to believe she was rather eager in seeing and finding out who was the lottery's next victim. She never put any thought in thinking, maybe she's the next victim and she was also laughing and joking with Mr. Summers. However, when it came to her being the victim the tables turned. She called the lottery "unfair" saying that her husband wasn't given enough time or space to pick the right paper. On the verge of her death she said "If it isn't fair, it's not right!" This proves the hypocritical nature of humans. If it's not ourselves personally, experiencing something really drastic or terrible, others are eager to find out about it, but don't really care. As long as it's not them, they just want to know all of your business. Gossip is human nature and is the cause of this hypocriticalness. Humans are selfish, and we are given our greatest example of this, within "The Lottery".
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Olivia, What is the whole point of the Lottery? All I understand is that it's a tradition that the elders refuse to break. When told that many other villages quit the lottery, the elders frowned upon and called them fools. But what is the whole point?