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Razaw Ahmed Hamdi

Miss Alka Aziz

English 102

21 May 2023

The Power Of Critical Analysis: Liberating Minds

From Blind Adherence
Many individuals adhere to and practice a system of beliefs known as a tradition because they
see it to be a constant source of wisdom. It significantly influences how people interact with one
another, how cultures express themselves, and how society values things. It has the ability to be a
unifying factor in forming someone’s sense of identity. Notwithstanding all of that, a tradition
can still possess the capacity to be harmful, yet it continues to be embraced and practiced as a
result of its normalization within society. Also, the act of unquestionably following a tradition
can have negative implications, leading to a decline in critical thinking abilities. So, my main
point is that the transportive nature of tradition is evident as it has the potential to shift from a
unifying force that brings communities together to a divisive element that tears them apart.
Over time, the significance of traditions can fade away, leading to a loss of understanding and
purpose. Consider “The Lottery” and “Animal Farm” as illustrations of this phenomenon. For
starters, the lottery, a long-standing tradition in the village, has become detached from its original
meaning, with even the villagers themselves unaware of its true intention. Passed down through
generations, the tradition is now blindly followed solely for the sake of perpetuation, rather than
a genuine understanding of its purpose. A telling quote from the story “Guess we better get
started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work” (Shirley Jackson p.2) reflects the
villagers’ indifference towards the ritual. They have become so desensitized to the act of stoning
someone to death that its moral gravity is entirely lost in them. This demonstrates the sheer lack
of empathy displayed by those who kill someone for no other reason than to perform a ritual. In
essence, the idea that someone may voluntarily take part in something detrimental just because it
has been in happening for years is so unsettling because it shows us how human nature is easily
impacted/influenced. Additionally, they justified the negative outcome of the ceremony by
expecting that it will result in a successful harvest “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.”
(Shirley Jackson p.4). I also want to emphasize how crucial the black box was to the plot and
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how it contributed to the tradition being carried out. The black box possesses an air of mystique
and tradition, representing the rich history and cultural legacy of the lottery. It serves as a
tangible symbol that connects the villagers to their ancestors and the customs they faithfully
adhered to. So going back to my initial assertion, we can see that it did, in fact, bring the people
together while also playing a role in their separation. This is clearly evident through the example
of Tessie, who was initially part of the ritual but then was abruptly excluded after she “won”.
Now let’s dive our focus into Animal Farm. To begin with, the initial purpose of the rebellion in
Animal Farm was to attain justice and equality for the animals in their struggle against humans.
The animals united and implemented the seven commandments, ensuring fair treatment for all.
However, a shift in tradition became apparent as the pigs seized control. They skillfully
manipulated the animals, gradually bending the rules to favor themselves and ensure the animals
would willingly serve their interests. At first, the animals lived in a classless society where
everyone received equal treatment. However, once Napoleon assumed leadership, the situation
quickly deteriorated. Even the farm’s harvest suffered under his rule “The harvest was a little
less successful than in the previous year ” (George Orwell p.30). This decline was primarily due
to Napoleon’s insatiable hunger for power, which fueled his greed. Tragically, because the
rebellion against humans had become a tradition, the animals were blinded to Napoleon’s
tyrannical tendencies. They believed that going against tradition would be morally wrong,
rendering them unable to recognize the detrimental effects of his leadership. It’s also important to
mention that the seven commandments in Animal Farm had the same effect as the black box did
in The Lottery, which was a factor of both solidarity and alienation. It was only released in order
for all the animals to join as a single group; but as soon as it was altered to benefit the pigs, a
clear division arose. All of this displays how a seemingly minor shared characteristic can later
become the cause of your estrangement from another individual.
One of the reasons for selecting these two readings for my essay is that they possess indirect
symbolisms that bear resemblances to each other. In the forthcoming paragraph, I will delve into
these symbolisms and elucidate their significance in supporting my argument. First, intelligence
played a pivotal role in shaping the traditions depicted both in The Lottery and Animal Farm. In
The Lottery, the character of Old Man Warner indirectly suggests that only intelligent individuals
would participate in the tradition while labeling those who did not as a "Pack of young fools”
(Shirley Jackson p.4). Similarly, in Animal Farm, it is repeatedly emphasized that the pigs,
regarded as the most intelligent animals, should wield greater authority over the others because
they supposedly knew what was “best”. Furthermore, it built a boundary between the animals,
where one group is seen as superior to the other, defeating the goal of their original association.
However, this perspective can be seen as a form of gaslighting because true intelligence should
encompass critical thinking, which both the animals and the villagers lacked due to their blind
adherence to tradition. In essence, the portrayal of intelligence in these texts challenges the
conventional understanding of intellect and highlights the irony that those perceived as smart are
often the ones suppressing critical thinking and perpetuating oppressive systems.
Secondly, there are notable similarities between Old Man Warner and Squealer. I have observed
that both characters exhibit characteristics of subservience to their respective traditions and
employ fear as a means of justifying obedience. For instance, Old Man Warner defends the
lottery tradition by suggesting that without it, the community would regress to a primitive
existence, living in caves “Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves.”
(Shirley Jackson p.4). Similarly, Squealer frequently instills fear in the animals by insinuating
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that if they don’t comply with the pigs’ directives, the return of Mr. Jones would be imminent,
haunting them once again. “Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones
would come back!” (George Orwell p.18). As a discerning reader, it becomes clear that both
characters exploit fear as a mechanism to keep their community in check and obedient. Thirdly,
both The Lottery and Animal Farm illustrate the transformation of seemingly harmless elements
into causes of death and oppression. In The Lottery, when stones were originally mentioned, they
were presented as something pure since the kids were gathering them and we typically identify
children with innocence. However, the stones turned into a dark term when they became
weapons to execute Tessie. On the other hand, in Animal Farm, the 7 commandments, which
were once the animal’s saving grace, ended up being their downfall because of the shift in laws,
such as “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others” (George Orwell
p.68) which resulted in the deaths of some animals. It’s quite ironic how these weapons should
be used to defend yourself from those who are hostile towards your community, but it turns out
that even your own community can harm you due to the existence of a senseless tradition.
Overall, these few examples that I drew from both texts highlight how tradition can’t serve as a
valid excuse for actions that may have negative intentions. Instead, it reveals how individuals can
be influenced and controlled by a system that is determined to maintain itself, even if it means
disregarding what is morally correct. Unfortunately, when certain practices become normalized,
they are often perceived as acceptable, despite their inherent flaws or unethical nature.
In summary, blindly adhering to traditions without questioning their motives can be perilous. It’s
crucial to approach traditions with an open mind and enhance one’s critical thinking skills. By
doing so, individuals can free themselves from the constraints of conformity, encourage cultural
evolution, foster personal growth, and promote intercultural understanding. Through critical
analysis, people can differentiate between valuable traditions worth preserving and those that
need adjustment or abandonment. This application of critical thinking enables societies to find a
harmonious equilibrium between honoring their cultural heritage and embracing necessary
changes, inclusivity, and a promising future. And just because we observe a certain group
cooperating in a negative way, doesn’t indicate that we should do the same, instead, we should
try to disrupt the pattern.
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Cited Works

Jackson, Shirley. “‘The Lottery,’ by Shirley Jackson.” The New Yorker, 19 June 1948,
www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery.

Orwell, George. “Animal Farm”. Collins Classics, 17 August 1945.