Antonia Park FINAL

Ms. Graham
10/ 8/13
Why does the lottery happen?

The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, is a short story about a small community
where everyone in the town participates in a lottery in which one person is chosen to be
stoned to death each year. The story is not clear on why the lottery happens. It suggests
that the townspeople continue to participate in the lottery because of tradition, sacrifice
and fear although they cannot remember why it started.
The townspeople dont know why they participate in the lottery. Most people in
the town dont think about why the lottery happens; they just do it. When Mr. Adams, a
farmer who lives in the village, mentions that the North Village is considering giving up
lotteries, Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, says, Theres always been a lottery
(page 4). This reveals that the townspeople dont know why the lottery started, but
theyve done it every year, and this year is not the year to stop doing it. Old Man Warner
becomes defensive when people mention giving up lotteries, because he has done the
lottery for so long and it is a part of his life. The lottery has become a tradition.
The lottery is also a sacrifice to the gods. When Old Man Warner is talking with
Mr. Adams, he mentions that there used to be a saying about Lottery in June, Corn be
heavy soon (page 4). The townspeople believe that the lottery will bring a good harvest.
If they sacrifice one person, then there will be a bountiful harvest and no one will die of
starvation. Since theyve had good harvests when theyve done the lottery, they are afraid
that if they stop doing the lottery, the harvest will not be good. Old Man Warner thinks
that quitting the lottery will cause everyone to stop working, regress and go back to living
in caves. He is trying to justify the lottery because he has participated in it for 76 years
and he doesnt know what its like to live without the lottery (page 4). The townspeople
have faith in the lottery to bring them good fortune. Old Man Warner says that if the
town ends the lottery, First thing you know, wed all be eating stewed chickweed and
acorns (page 4), showing his fear that if they stop doing the lottery they will starve to
death.
The villagers have forgotten why they do the lottery. The story mentions there
used to be a formal ceremony to swear in the official of the lottery, But years and years
ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse (page 2). The villagers have
forgotten many parts of the original lottery, yet they continue to conduct the lottery.
When Mr. Summers, the man who runs the lottery, is giving the instructions for the
lottery, The people had done it so many times they only half listened (page 4). The
people have gotten used to doing the lottery and they dont think about it anymore; it has
become almost second nature.
Although the villagers have gotten used to the lottery, at their deepest core they
still believe it is wrong. When Davy, the youngest member of the family chosen from the
lottery, chooses his paper from the black box and Mr. Graves opened the slip of paper
there was a general sigh through the crowd as he held it up and everyone could see that it
was blank, (page 6). The general sigh suggests the people are relieved that they do
not have to take the life from a young child.
The Lottery is not just about a town that kills one person every year. The story
is about how people uphold traditions without question because it gives them comfort and
security. People support even the most disturbing traditions because they fear what
would happen if they stop performing the tradition.

I have completed this assignment in accordance with the Newark Academy Honor

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