Why does Mr Dunbar miss the lottery?
Mr. Dunbar isn’t there because he broke his leg. However, that does not exempt him from the lottery, just from picking out the piece of paper from the box. Usually the oldest son would pick for the family, but his son is not even 16 yet, so his wife picks from the box for the family.
Is the lottery by Shirley Jackson rigged?
As its very title suggests, Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” focuses on an apparent game of chance. Unless lotteries are rigged, they are supposed to be decided purely by accident, not by any design. … In this lottery, however, there seems no escape clause.
Who calls out the names in the lottery?
Summers. The man who conducts the lottery. Mr. Summers prepares the slips of paper that go into the black box and calls the names of the people who draw the papers.
How do the people in The Lottery feel about The Lottery?
The townspeople have mixed reactions to the annual lottery. Some are genuinely excited about it—the children who don’t know any better think it’s an opportunity to play and talk together. … The adults also do not display much seriousness, until the actual lottery begins.
Who broke their leg in The Lottery?
Clyde Dunbar’s wife drew for him because he couldn’t attend.
Clyde Dunbar broke his leg and is not able to attend the village’s annual lottery.
What does it mean that the Watson boy is drawing?
After Mr. Summers asks if the “Watson boy” will be drawing for his family that year, the boy goes forward to draw for himself and his mother, indicating that his father has died. The reverence that the other villagers show Jack displays how drawing for one’s family serves as a sign of honor and sacrifice.
Who is Janey in the lottery?
Clyde Dunbar’s wife and the only woman to draw in the lottery. Husbands, as the heads of households, draw for their families. A grown son might also take on this role, but the Dunbars’ children are too young.
What is Shirley Jackson’s message in The Lottery?
The primary message of Shirley Jackson’s celebrated short story “The Lottery” concerns the dangers of blindly following traditions. In the story, the entire community gathers in the town square to participate in the annual lottery.
Why did they do The Lottery in The Lottery?
Adams tells Old Man Warner that he has heard of another village in the north in which the townspeople are talking about giving up the lottery. … The reason why the villagers “have” to have a lottery is simply because the lottery had become a tradition that has been followed since the time of the villagers’ ancestors.
In what way is the title The Lottery misleading?
The title “The Lottery” is misleading because people associate lotteries with positive benefits such as prizes of cash or luxury items. The author tricks readers with this deceptive title to increase the horror of the surprise ending.