How Does Shirley Jackson Use Irony In The Lottery

The Unlucky Winner Usually, when one hears anything about a lottery, it is perceived as being a great fortune brought down upon whoever wins it, even if the person has done nothing to actually deserve it. After all, it is won only by a stroke of luck, an unforeseen and unexpected circumstance. But even so, it is supposed to bring wealth and luxury into the winner’s life. Not one person in today’s society would ever see the lottery as an unfortunate event that winning it would bring serious repercussions such as execution and death. On the contrary, “The Lottery,” written by Shirley Jackson, uses irony to exemplify how people can illogically follow senseless traditions and ultimately demonstrates how society can blindly persecute innocent individuals. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is easily considered as one of the most highly regarded short stories of all times as it leaves the readers with excitement and suspense at the seemingly peaceful-but-turned-violent scenario. It begins with the setting and the mood in a sense of peace and tranquility. It was “a clear and warm summer morning,” where everybody was gathered around and getting ready for the lottery that was held once
The prospect of individuals accomplishing something illogically, just to appease the continuation of something that was done by their forefathers is absurd, unless there was a positive outcome from it. This implies that as time advances some traditions should be removed and disappear, especially if such traditions involved the termination of another life. Furthermore, it insinuates that traditions should not dictate human behavior to the point where the people loses their sense of