The Lottery: a Critical Analysis
Christine Syms
Ellen Perry
ENG 113
12 April 2013
Sacrifice Complex:
A Critical Analysis of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have participated in acts of sacrifice. In ancient cultures these sacrifices came in a physical form, usually in the form of blood. The fuel behind these acts of hostility and violence performed by these ancient cultures was simply an effort to satisfy their god or gods and gain their favor to ensure the fertility of the land and the survival of the people. These cultures truly believed that such acts were vital in their ability to survive in environments filled with uncertainty and chaos. However, throughout the years, the acts of sacrificing began to evolve to suit a world where the shedding of blood was no longer socially acceptable.
As the idea of salvation spread around the world and different religions became prominent, human beings moved away from acts of sacrifice involving the flesh and moved toward acts of moral sacrifice. Just as physical sacrifice was fueled by a need to control one’s physical environment, moral sacrifice is an attempt to transform one’s environment from an ethical point of view. This type of sacrifice occurs when an individual forces his moral beliefs upon a person tearing at their self esteem and identity. In the end, this affects the person’s ability to lead a happy fulfilling life. In both types of sacrifice a type of death can be found; the only real difference is that one is physical and the other is emotional. In her short story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses the shocking act of physical sacrifice, misleading imagery, and symbolism to show that though the act of sacrifice has transformed from a physical to an emotional act, the effects are equally damaging. “The Lottery” is an ominous tale that spotlights the barbaric behaviors that still exist among the people of the world in their outdated traditions. The story begins on a beautiful day as the
Ellen Perry
ENG 113
12 April 2013
Sacrifice Complex:
A Critical Analysis of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have participated in acts of sacrifice. In ancient cultures these sacrifices came in a physical form, usually in the form of blood. The fuel behind these acts of hostility and violence performed by these ancient cultures was simply an effort to satisfy their god or gods and gain their favor to ensure the fertility of the land and the survival of the people. These cultures truly believed that such acts were vital in their ability to survive in environments filled with uncertainty and chaos. However, throughout the years, the acts of sacrificing began to evolve to suit a world where the shedding of blood was no longer socially acceptable.
As the idea of salvation spread around the world and different religions became prominent, human beings moved away from acts of sacrifice involving the flesh and moved toward acts of moral sacrifice. Just as physical sacrifice was fueled by a need to control one’s physical environment, moral sacrifice is an attempt to transform one’s environment from an ethical point of view. This type of sacrifice occurs when an individual forces his moral beliefs upon a person tearing at their self esteem and identity. In the end, this affects the person’s ability to lead a happy fulfilling life. In both types of sacrifice a type of death can be found; the only real difference is that one is physical and the other is emotional. In her short story “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses the shocking act of physical sacrifice, misleading imagery, and symbolism to show that though the act of sacrifice has transformed from a physical to an emotional act, the effects are equally damaging. “The Lottery” is an ominous tale that spotlights the barbaric behaviors that still exist among the people of the world in their outdated traditions. The story begins on a beautiful day as the
Cited: Cervo, Nathan. “Jackson’s The Lottery.” Explicator 50.3 (1992): 183. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Apr. 2013 Friedman, Lenemaja. Shirley Jackson. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1975. Print. Griffin, Amy A. “Jackson’s The Lottery.” The Explicator 58.1 (1999): 44. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The New Yorker 26 June 1948: 25-28. Web. 4 May 2013 Nebeker, Helen E. “‘The Lottery’: Symbolic Tour De Force.” American Literature 46.1 (1974): 100. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.