What do the villagers think 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. Some of the boys pick up stones and fill their pockets, getting ready for the final part of the ceremony.
What purpose do the villagers believe the lottery serves?
To the elder villagers, the lottery represents progress, and is vital for the village to survive. The author hints that the lottery is a harvest sacrifice by quoting Old Man Warner: “Used to be a saying about “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.
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.
What does the lottery symbolize in the lottery?
The lottery represents any action, behavior, or idea that is passed down from one generation to the next that’s accepted and followed unquestioningly, no matter how illogical, bizarre, or cruel. The lottery has been taking place in the village for as long as anyone can remember.
Why did Tessie get stoned in The Lottery?
Tessie is stoned to death because she’s the “winner” of the lottery. The townspeople seem to believe that unless they sacrifice one of their own, crops will fail. It’s an old tradition, and very few think to question it at all.
Why is The Lottery by Shirley Jackson important?
The purpose of the lottery remains a mystery because the author wanted to emphasize that the people were doing something outrageous without even knowing why they were doing it. Tessie Hutchinson is a woman known to everyone in attendance, and everyone seems to like her.
Is The Lottery by Shirley Jackson an allegory?
Shirley Jackson’s story “The Lottery” serves as an allegory regarding humankinds inherent to be cruel and society’s ability to inure to violence. The author’s use of a third-person dramatic narrative combined with strong themes, symbols and irony clearly supports the lesson Jackson was trying to portray.
What do you think Little Davy symbolizes in the story?
He is the newest addition to the town and represents all the children who are being born to make up for all the people who are getting stoned to death. Little Davy is also significant because the author shows how he is being conditioned to believe in and participate in the annual death-lottery.
What is the major theme of the story The Lottery?
The main themes in “The Lottery” are the vulnerability of the individual, the importance of questioning tradition, and the relationship between civilization and violence. The vulnerability of the individual: Given the structure of the annual lottery, each individual townsperson is defenseless against the larger group.