Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Specifically, Term Paper

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The town and the people are just like "you and me," and Jackson strives to make them appear that way, from the way the men talk about " planting and rain, tractors and taxes" (Jackson), to the way Mrs. Hutchinson hurries up late, wiping her hands on her apron after doing a batch of dishes. These people could be our neighbors, our friends, even our families. They are "normal" people in a small town, going about their everyday lives. This symbolism of normalcy is extremely important to the story, because it creates a false sense of security surrounding the town and in the reader. Surely, nothing bad could happen in this bucolic small town. However, something bad does happen, and the normalcy and serenity of the town makes it all the more appalling. These people could be your neighbors or friends, and that is frightening.

Evil pervades the story's last few lines, when the townspeople surround Tessie and stone her to death. She appeals to their common sense, but they are beyond that now. Pushed on by tradition and culture, they turn into animals, and turn a pastoral small village into a hateful and evil place in the name of customs. Jackson is showing that many facets of our everyday society could be seen as evil, too, from the way we look down on people of other races and cultures, to the way one religion is extremely intolerant of another, or the way rival gangs destroy each other on city streets.

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All of these things exist in our society, just as this custom existed in Jackson's society. Thus, evil exists in every society, and every society makes "sacrifices" like Tessie Hutchinson. It may not be the same as the lottery, but society does sacrifice its' youth to gangs, its' elderly to be forgotten in nursing homes, and its' middle age to striving for possessions and money above all else. These things appear evil to many, and to many other societies, and so, Jackson seems to be saying, just as the Bible says, that before anyone casts that "first stone," they had better take a good look in the mirror.

This story might make some people thankful that they do not live in such an evil society, but others will see the underlying evil in all societies, no matter how wonderful and appealing they look from the outside. Just like Jackson's "perfect" little village, there is often evil lurking in the places where it seems most unlikely.

In conclusion, this short story seems quite benign at first, but it is really quite shocking and stays with the reader. The custom of the lottery is evil, and with it, author Jackson shows how evil can lurk underneath even the most normal appearances. She seems to be saying that people must be aware that the thing that appear the most normal and commonplace may hold evil and frightening undertones, and one should always be aware and wise when dealing with society, customs, and "normalcy.".....

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"Lottery By Shirley Jackson Specifically " (2004, October 16) Retrieved June 30, 2025, from
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"Lottery By Shirley Jackson Specifically ", 16 October 2004, Accessed.30 June. 2025,
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