Tradition In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
“The Lottery” is a short story written by a woman named Shirley Jackson. The story takes
place on the 27th of June in a small nameless town. The lottery is a tradition in this small town
and has taken place longer than any of the townspeople can remember. In fact none even
remember why there is a lottery, but take part in it because there has always been one. Part of this
tradition is an old black box. Of course it is not the original box but some in the story say that it
was made from pieces of the old box. This box is so special to the lottery because it is what
pieces of paper are drawn from to determine the winner. The writer began the story by explaining
how the whole town gathers together on the morning of
June 27th. The children are innocently
playing in one area. A group of boys gathers up a pile of stones and stand watch so no other kids
can take them. The women gather together in their own group and exchange bits of gossip while
the men have their own conversations. The mood of the story changes when Mr. Summers, the
man in charge of the lottery, arrives carrying the old black box. Everyone stands with their family
and Mr. Summers takes an attendance to make sure each family is represented.
Then it begins. The head of each household approaches the black box and draws a small
piece of paper, but does not open it. It is silent and the moment is tense as all of the pieces of
paper are unfolded at once. All the papers are blank except the one that Mr. Hutchinson holds.
His paper is marked with a black dot. When this is revealed all members of his family are
required to draw from the black box against the will of his wife Tessie who repeatedly states that
none of it is fair. One-by-one they reveal their slips of paper to see who has drawn the black dot.
As the story ends Tessie is pleading for her life, and stating that none of it is right as the town
stones her to death to keep up the tradition of the lottery.
place on the 27th of June in a small nameless town. The lottery is a tradition in this small town
and has taken place longer than any of the townspeople can remember. In fact none even
remember why there is a lottery, but take part in it because there has always been one. Part of this
tradition is an old black box. Of course it is not the original box but some in the story say that it
was made from pieces of the old box. This box is so special to the lottery because it is what
pieces of paper are drawn from to determine the winner. The writer began the story by explaining
how the whole town gathers together on the morning of
June 27th. The children are innocently
playing in one area. A group of boys gathers up a pile of stones and stand watch so no other kids
can take them. The women gather together in their own group and exchange bits of gossip while
the men have their own conversations. The mood of the story changes when Mr. Summers, the
man in charge of the lottery, arrives carrying the old black box. Everyone stands with their family
and Mr. Summers takes an attendance to make sure each family is represented.
Then it begins. The head of each household approaches the black box and draws a small
piece of paper, but does not open it. It is silent and the moment is tense as all of the pieces of
paper are unfolded at once. All the papers are blank except the one that Mr. Hutchinson holds.
His paper is marked with a black dot. When this is revealed all members of his family are
required to draw from the black box against the will of his wife Tessie who repeatedly states that
none of it is fair. One-by-one they reveal their slips of paper to see who has drawn the black dot.
As the story ends Tessie is pleading for her life, and stating that none of it is right as the town
stones her to death to keep up the tradition of the lottery.