Sacrificial Rituals In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

The story starts off as the setting where things are nice, peaceful and not at all dark. Early in the story the kids stacking stones is a hidden element of the story in the beginning that foreshadows the events that happen eventually. About midway, you start to understand what this event really means and the ramifications of those who get picked, it is a ritual where they stone someone. The word lottery to me symbolizes a moment of happiness and celebration for the fact that it is generally a great thing. In this story, however, it means a rather barbaric and dark sacrificial ritual. I found this story interesting in the sense that it took a different take on the whole lottery idea and even plays upon hypocrisy. By that I mean the elder at