The Lottery Symbolism Essay
Jackson uses symbolism in “The Lottery” to convey how people blindly follow a tradition that, in reality, is morally brutal. She uses Old Man Warner’s commentary to help portray this issue. For instance, Old Man Warner states, “‘It’s not the way it used to be,’ Old Man Warner said clearly. ‘People ain’t the way they used to be”’ (Jackson 7). Old Man Warner comments on everyone’s sympathy for Tessie’s family. He has participated in the lottery for 77 years and based on that experience, he comments on how the lottery has changed since his time. Everyone is waiting to see who would be the “winner” of the lottery and sympathize with the children in the family which provokes Old Man Warner’s comment. This shows us how the lottery has changed over
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time and how Old Man Warner is judging how the people have grown more sympathetic. The author is describing how a tradition that we have been following blindly for years is now being recognized for what it truly is. The lottery itself serves as a tradition in our society that has been followed blindly for a very long time. Old Man Warner serves as someone who has followed this tradition his entire life and never recognized its brutality. The people sympathizing serve as millennials who experience the tradition and recognize it for what it is but don’t say anything about it. Tessie serves as someone who finally recognizes it for what it is but nobody would listen to her. One issue that Jackson may be trying to portray is the violence against homosexuals. The “tradition” of punishing homosexuals for being unnatural is something that is seen throughout history and to this day.
Those who are old and have grown up learning that homosexuals are bad have that idea embedded into their minds. Their mindsets are now inflexible, like Old Man Warner. Most millennials recognize the problem and sympathize with the homosexuals but refuse to say anything about it. Then, there are those who speak out against it and these people are usually in the position (like Tessie); most of the time nothing happens. Moreover, in the text it states, “‘Some places have already quit lotteries,’ Mrs. Adams said. ‘Nothing but trouble in that,’ Old Man Warner said stoutly. ‘Pack of young fools’” (Jackson 5). This quote describes how some villages have quit the lottery and Old Man Warner commented on that by saying how they are foolish for doing so. This depicts how some countries have quit punishing homosexuals by creating laws against the “practice.” To reiterate, the older generation, depicted by Old Man Warner, does not believe in that sympathy and continue to “practice” this “tradition.” Although some places quit the “tradition,” some still blindly follow it. Hence, Jackson uses Old Man Warner’s dialogue to help symbolize an issue in real life that we fail to
see.
time and how Old Man Warner is judging how the people have grown more sympathetic. The author is describing how a tradition that we have been following blindly for years is now being recognized for what it truly is. The lottery itself serves as a tradition in our society that has been followed blindly for a very long time. Old Man Warner serves as someone who has followed this tradition his entire life and never recognized its brutality. The people sympathizing serve as millennials who experience the tradition and recognize it for what it is but don’t say anything about it. Tessie serves as someone who finally recognizes it for what it is but nobody would listen to her. One issue that Jackson may be trying to portray is the violence against homosexuals. The “tradition” of punishing homosexuals for being unnatural is something that is seen throughout history and to this day.
Those who are old and have grown up learning that homosexuals are bad have that idea embedded into their minds. Their mindsets are now inflexible, like Old Man Warner. Most millennials recognize the problem and sympathize with the homosexuals but refuse to say anything about it. Then, there are those who speak out against it and these people are usually in the position (like Tessie); most of the time nothing happens. Moreover, in the text it states, “‘Some places have already quit lotteries,’ Mrs. Adams said. ‘Nothing but trouble in that,’ Old Man Warner said stoutly. ‘Pack of young fools’” (Jackson 5). This quote describes how some villages have quit the lottery and Old Man Warner commented on that by saying how they are foolish for doing so. This depicts how some countries have quit punishing homosexuals by creating laws against the “practice.” To reiterate, the older generation, depicted by Old Man Warner, does not believe in that sympathy and continue to “practice” this “tradition.” Although some places quit the “tradition,” some still blindly follow it. Hence, Jackson uses Old Man Warner’s dialogue to help symbolize an issue in real life that we fail to
see.