The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Setting Analysis
As society changes, some traditions evolve, but some remain stagnant. Tradition is a substantial part of our life today, but decades ago it was a lifestyle. Anyone with an objection to a tradition was met with dire consequences. In “The Lottery,” the fortunate or in this case the unfortunate winner would be stoned to death. “The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock” (Jackson 1). This quote shows that the lottery runs on tried-and-true process, and the whole town passionately followed the ritual. The participants were of the view that the sacrifice would bring in bountiful corn during harvest time. In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson proficiently uses distinctive setting
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The lottery process begins first thing in the morning under a bright sun, which sets up for a pleasant setting. “So it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner” (Jackson 10). The setting of “The Lottery” portrays a pastoral feeling of a gentle summer day. Such beautiful setting for such an occasion again proves the eccentric nature of the tradition. Essentially, many characters are introduced throughout the story. Old man Warner comes across as a traditionalist character. When he is informed about the harsh reality that some places have already quit lotteries, he says, “Nothing but trouble in that, (you) Pack of young fools” (Jackson 121). Such descriptions suggest that he was not ready to give up the tradition even if other towns have abandoned it. He blindly supported the tradition, “Old Man Warner draws; it is his seventy-seventh lottery” (Jackson 23). Another indication that Old Man Warner feels the tradition must go on even after countless sacrifices. Later on, when Tess proves to be the unfortunate lottery winner, Warner asks townspeople to begin with the horrific act. “Once Tess has been selected for stoning, Old Man Warner encourages everyone to turn on her” (Jackson 25). The stoning therefore begins. It is character like Warner that townspeople blindly followed this highly insignificant
The lottery process begins first thing in the morning under a bright sun, which sets up for a pleasant setting. “So it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner” (Jackson 10). The setting of “The Lottery” portrays a pastoral feeling of a gentle summer day. Such beautiful setting for such an occasion again proves the eccentric nature of the tradition. Essentially, many characters are introduced throughout the story. Old man Warner comes across as a traditionalist character. When he is informed about the harsh reality that some places have already quit lotteries, he says, “Nothing but trouble in that, (you) Pack of young fools” (Jackson 121). Such descriptions suggest that he was not ready to give up the tradition even if other towns have abandoned it. He blindly supported the tradition, “Old Man Warner draws; it is his seventy-seventh lottery” (Jackson 23). Another indication that Old Man Warner feels the tradition must go on even after countless sacrifices. Later on, when Tess proves to be the unfortunate lottery winner, Warner asks townspeople to begin with the horrific act. “Once Tess has been selected for stoning, Old Man Warner encourages everyone to turn on her” (Jackson 25). The stoning therefore begins. It is character like Warner that townspeople blindly followed this highly insignificant