The Importance Of Tradition In The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

THE LOTTERY People are like sheep and will obey other people’s laws or rules even if they are cruel and unjust. In Shirley Jackson’s fiction story, The Lottery, the story centers around a small town where they practice an unusual tradition every year known as “ The Lottery ”. The story mainly focuses around the Hutchinson family (which are the main protagonists of the story) and them being selected in The Lottery. The Lottery is held by Mr.Summers (which is the antagonist of the story) and is mandatory by law. The Lottery works likes this, Every man of the family is to go up and pick a small card out of a box, whoever has a card with a black circle wins the lottery, and the prize given is a very cruel DEATH by stoning. People are like sheep and will blindly follow and practice traditions that are inhumane and unjust. People are like sheep and will obey laws or traditions even if it's inhumane and or morally wrong to them. “ ‘ It isn’t fair ’, she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head ”. This quote shows how even though Tessie Hutchinson pleaded with the people to not kill her they still did. This is a clear example on how people can act like sheep and obey certain laws or traditions that are just WRONG and INHUMANE.
The Lottery is held by Mr.Summers and nobody ever questions it or stands up to this system. “ There was the proper swearing-in of Mr.Summers by the postmaster, as the official of the lottery ”. This quote shows how only one man is in control of this lottery and even though the people of the town can outnumber and overthrow their government and protest against “ The Lottery ” they choose not to, and just keep acting like sheep by following the orders of one man, and by still practicing this horrendous tradition known as “ The Lottery