Irony In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
In “The Hunger Games,” the district really never has a say so on that is selected, but yet everyone gathers to watch. Similarly in “The Lottery” villagers gather to select a ticket to find one villager to be stoned to death. In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the events of the narrative seem to suggest that traditions are a normal part of society. However a close look at the use of irony and foreshadowing demonstrate the lack of normalcy in the community. The tension in these readings ultimately indicates complacency in our society with the status quo until we become the victims.
Are the things our ancestors have taught us, always right? Growing up one learns traditions that seem normal to the community or society, but yet are they actually always true, or is it just something they are used to. During “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson shows how the villagers thought that stoning someone was entirely normal and just a part of their everyday routine. As they all gathered for the occasion, no one expressed how they thought that stoning was harmful. Even Tessie never …show more content…
said anything until it was her turn (265). As she was late showing up that day from doing her dishes while calling out the ticket numbers, she then realized she was the “lucky” person (264-265). This is when Tessie stood “in the center or a cleared space” (265) as she “held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her,” (256) she then began saying “this isn’t fair” as stones “hit her on the side of the head” (265). “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right, Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, as they were upon her” (265). As Tessie pleaded for her life, she realized there was not much she could do. As many villagers probably seemed to believe this act of violence was wrong, they did not seem to stop it or speak up.
The title, “The Lottery,” has a great deal of irony. The title makes the reader assume that the story will be about someone winning the lottery or in yet someone winning something. While reading this story, one seems to find this title really the opposite of the true meaning. The irony of “The Lottery” is no one really wins anything, and Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death. Throughout reading “The Lottery” the reader begins to think the title was the real meaning, as Shirley Jackson calmly explained “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny” (258). The reader would suspect the ending of the story would turn out the way it did. Situational irony was happening all throughout the story, as Tessie Hutchinson showed up late while grinning and saying to Joe, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now would you” (261) Tessie did not think it would happen to her. While they read the ticket everyone was looking to see who had the “lucky number” Tessie then realized how unlucky she really was on this clear and sunny June day (258-261).
Shirley Jackson also showed a great deal of irony when little Davy Hutchinson was picking up pebbles, to throw at his own mother (265). The reader would have never suspected her own son stoning her to death. As if the villagers found this entertaining to stone an innocent villager in their community. As the town saw the normalcy in this, no one ever stated their opinion until they were the number being called. Foreshadowing throughout “The Lottery” all started while the children began gathering stones though the story (259). Several children such as Bobby Martin, Harry Jones, Dickie Delacroix, and Davy Hutchinson had “pockets full of stones, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones” (259). The reader assumes the boys were just playing with the rocks ad filling their pockets with them like normal childhood play. “The Lottery” also showed foreshadowing while the town was gathering around and surrounding Tessie Hutchinson after realizing she had the ticket number (265). As Mr. Summers told the villagers, “Let’s finish quickly “the reader begins to realize that something bad may happen (265). As several villagers collected stones, larger and small, they all showed how normal this was for them (264-265). Society still to this day lives by the “status quo,” believing that something shown or taught is always right.
In “The Lottery” the villagers believed that stoning Tessie Hutchinson was perfectly normal, nothing out of the ordinary, but was this act of violence right or appropriate? The complacency of “The Lottery” shows that people will sit back and watch things happen and yet never voice their opinion on the matter, rather it be stoning someone to death or simply shooting someone. Society feels as if these acts of violence are wrong or unnecessary but yet one never hears of someone taking acting to stop it. It was not until Tessie Hutchinson realized she was the victim on June 27th that she stood up to say what they were doing was wrong (265). Tessie begged and screamed “It isn’t right, it isn’t fair,” while knowing there was nothing she could do to stop them
(265).
Still to this day society lives but the “status quo” one goes to church on Sundays. This is what we are taught. Most families go to the grocery store once a week. Why not go once a month, or what if grocery stores were only opened one week out of the mouth? Why should someone marry someone before they have children, why not just have children whenever? Another scenario, why do families have sit down dinner time? Why does someone have to have dinner at the time it is ready, why not just eat when you are hungry. We are educated these things by our parents who were educated by their parents, after generation and generation of “family traditions” when does society realize that sometimes traditions can change and sometimes for the better. Living by the “status quo” is not always right, society has to learn to stand their own and speak up for what they feel is right. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, shows events that are normal traditions of the society. Use of irony and foreshadowing show how the community lacked normalcy. The status quo society then become victims and show complacency in society. Are the things our ancestors taught us really the correct way to do things, or throughout time should we change our ways sometimes? The irony of “The Lottery” is shown by the title itself. The reader would never see what was coming. As the children gathered rocks, a great deal of foreshadowing was presented to the reader. The “status quo” sometimes makes innocent people of society become victims of harmful crimes.
Works Cited
Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia, eds. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 4th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2010. Print.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” Kennedy 258-265.
In “The Hunger Games,” the district really never has a say so on that is selected, but yet everyone gathers to watch. Similarly in “The Lottery” villagers gather to select a ticket to find one villager to be stoned to death. In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the events of the narrative seem to suggest that traditions are a normal part of society. However a close look at the use of irony and foreshadowing demonstrate the lack of normalcy in the community. The tension in these readings ultimately indicates complacency in our society with the status quo until we become the victims.
Are the things our ancestors have taught us, always right? Growing up one learns traditions that seem normal to the community or society, but yet are they actually always true, or is it just something they are used to. During “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson shows how the villagers thought that stoning someone was entirely normal and just a part of their everyday routine. As they all gathered for the occasion, no one expressed how they thought that stoning was harmful. Even Tessie never …show more content…
said anything until it was her turn (265). As she was late showing up that day from doing her dishes while calling out the ticket numbers, she then realized she was the “lucky” person (264-265). This is when Tessie stood “in the center or a cleared space” (265) as she “held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her,” (256) she then began saying “this isn’t fair” as stones “hit her on the side of the head” (265). “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right, Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, as they were upon her” (265). As Tessie pleaded for her life, she realized there was not much she could do. As many villagers probably seemed to believe this act of violence was wrong, they did not seem to stop it or speak up.
The title, “The Lottery,” has a great deal of irony. The title makes the reader assume that the story will be about someone winning the lottery or in yet someone winning something. While reading this story, one seems to find this title really the opposite of the true meaning. The irony of “The Lottery” is no one really wins anything, and Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death. Throughout reading “The Lottery” the reader begins to think the title was the real meaning, as Shirley Jackson calmly explained “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny” (258). The reader would suspect the ending of the story would turn out the way it did. Situational irony was happening all throughout the story, as Tessie Hutchinson showed up late while grinning and saying to Joe, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now would you” (261) Tessie did not think it would happen to her. While they read the ticket everyone was looking to see who had the “lucky number” Tessie then realized how unlucky she really was on this clear and sunny June day (258-261).
Shirley Jackson also showed a great deal of irony when little Davy Hutchinson was picking up pebbles, to throw at his own mother (265). The reader would have never suspected her own son stoning her to death. As if the villagers found this entertaining to stone an innocent villager in their community. As the town saw the normalcy in this, no one ever stated their opinion until they were the number being called. Foreshadowing throughout “The Lottery” all started while the children began gathering stones though the story (259). Several children such as Bobby Martin, Harry Jones, Dickie Delacroix, and Davy Hutchinson had “pockets full of stones, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones” (259). The reader assumes the boys were just playing with the rocks ad filling their pockets with them like normal childhood play. “The Lottery” also showed foreshadowing while the town was gathering around and surrounding Tessie Hutchinson after realizing she had the ticket number (265). As Mr. Summers told the villagers, “Let’s finish quickly “the reader begins to realize that something bad may happen (265). As several villagers collected stones, larger and small, they all showed how normal this was for them (264-265). Society still to this day lives by the “status quo,” believing that something shown or taught is always right.
In “The Lottery” the villagers believed that stoning Tessie Hutchinson was perfectly normal, nothing out of the ordinary, but was this act of violence right or appropriate? The complacency of “The Lottery” shows that people will sit back and watch things happen and yet never voice their opinion on the matter, rather it be stoning someone to death or simply shooting someone. Society feels as if these acts of violence are wrong or unnecessary but yet one never hears of someone taking acting to stop it. It was not until Tessie Hutchinson realized she was the victim on June 27th that she stood up to say what they were doing was wrong (265). Tessie begged and screamed “It isn’t right, it isn’t fair,” while knowing there was nothing she could do to stop them
(265).
Still to this day society lives but the “status quo” one goes to church on Sundays. This is what we are taught. Most families go to the grocery store once a week. Why not go once a month, or what if grocery stores were only opened one week out of the mouth? Why should someone marry someone before they have children, why not just have children whenever? Another scenario, why do families have sit down dinner time? Why does someone have to have dinner at the time it is ready, why not just eat when you are hungry. We are educated these things by our parents who were educated by their parents, after generation and generation of “family traditions” when does society realize that sometimes traditions can change and sometimes for the better. Living by the “status quo” is not always right, society has to learn to stand their own and speak up for what they feel is right. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, shows events that are normal traditions of the society. Use of irony and foreshadowing show how the community lacked normalcy. The status quo society then become victims and show complacency in society. Are the things our ancestors taught us really the correct way to do things, or throughout time should we change our ways sometimes? The irony of “The Lottery” is shown by the title itself. The reader would never see what was coming. As the children gathered rocks, a great deal of foreshadowing was presented to the reader. The “status quo” sometimes makes innocent people of society become victims of harmful crimes.
Works Cited
Kennedy, X. J. and Dana Gioia, eds. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 4th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2010. Print.
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” Kennedy 258-265.