Irony In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
In “The Hunger Games,” the district really never has a say so on that is selected, but yet everyone gathers to watch. Similarly in “The Lottery” villagers gather to select a ticket to find one villager to be stoned to death. In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the events of the narrative seem to suggest that traditions are a normal part of society. However a close look at the use of irony and foreshadowing demonstrate the lack of normalcy in the community. The tension in these readings ultimately indicates complacency in our society with the status quo until we become the victims.
Are the things our ancestors have taught us, always right? Growing up one learns traditions that seem normal to the community or society, but yet are they actually always true, or is it just something they are used to. During “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson shows how the villagers thought that stoning someone was entirely normal and just a part of their everyday routine. As they all gathered for the occasion, no one expressed how they thought that stoning was harmful. Even Tessie never …show more content…
In “The Lottery” the villagers believed that stoning Tessie Hutchinson was perfectly normal, nothing out of the ordinary, but was this act of violence right or appropriate? The complacency of “The Lottery” shows that people will sit back and watch things happen and yet never voice their opinion on the matter, rather it be stoning someone to death or simply shooting someone. Society feels as if these acts of violence are wrong or unnecessary but yet one never hears of someone taking acting to stop it. It was not until Tessie Hutchinson realized she was the victim on June 27th that she stood up to say what they were doing was wrong (265). Tessie begged and screamed “It isn’t right, it isn’t fair,” while knowing there was nothing she could do to stop them
In “The Hunger Games,” the district really never has a say so on that is selected, but yet everyone gathers to watch. Similarly in “The Lottery” villagers gather to select a ticket to find one villager to be stoned to death. In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, the events of the narrative seem to suggest that traditions are a normal part of society. However a close look at the use of irony and foreshadowing demonstrate the lack of normalcy in the community. The tension in these readings ultimately indicates complacency in our society with the status quo until we become the victims.
Are the things our ancestors have taught us, always right? Growing up one learns traditions that seem normal to the community or society, but yet are they actually always true, or is it just something they are used to. During “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson shows how the villagers thought that stoning someone was entirely normal and just a part of their everyday routine. As they all gathered for the occasion, no one expressed how they thought that stoning was harmful. Even Tessie never …show more content…
In “The Lottery” the villagers believed that stoning Tessie Hutchinson was perfectly normal, nothing out of the ordinary, but was this act of violence right or appropriate? The complacency of “The Lottery” shows that people will sit back and watch things happen and yet never voice their opinion on the matter, rather it be stoning someone to death or simply shooting someone. Society feels as if these acts of violence are wrong or unnecessary but yet one never hears of someone taking acting to stop it. It was not until Tessie Hutchinson realized she was the victim on June 27th that she stood up to say what they were doing was wrong (265). Tessie begged and screamed “It isn’t right, it isn’t fair,” while knowing there was nothing she could do to stop them