Hidden Evil In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

Elated with success after victory in the Second World War, the United States revelled in economic prosperity and its rise as a world power. Such pride led to heightened American nationalism, and despite its new influence on the outer world, the country remained insular. Behind a facade of honour and patriotism was a background of indubitable traditions and racism, clear in even the most innocuous-seeming towns. Written shortly after war’s end, Shirley Jackson’s small town in “The Lottery” serves as a microcosm of post-WWII America, establishing in her story the theme of America’s hidden evil. Jackson uses imagery typical of an idyllic American town to show readers depravity can embed itself into the most seemingly harmless places. In the story’s first paragraph, Jackson describes the “fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (1). This description gives readers a clear vision of the town’s physical beauty. She misleads readers to associate the story’s setting with its plot
Jackson introduces Mr. Summers’ character as heavily involved in the community and lists his responsibilities: “the lottery … the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program”. (1) By listing the lottery along with town activities like square dances and a teen club, Jackson associates the lottery with these activities’ innocence. At the end of the story, Jackson explains that “Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands” (7). One can translate the last name Delacroix from French to mean “of the cross”, which associates the character with purity, and strict adherence to religion. When Mrs. Delacroix not only participates in this town ritual but picks such a large rock to execute her friend, Jackson shows that even the most devout can commit