Essay on Shirley Jacksons The Lottery - Evils of Society Exposed

The Evils of Society Exposed in The Lottery In Shirley capital of Mississippis The Lottery, what appears to be an ordinary day in a small townsfolk takes an evil turn when a wo valet de chambre is stoned to death afterwards winning the town draft. The lottery in this story reflects an old custom of sacrificing a scapegoat in order to encourage the growth of crops. precisely this story is not around the past, for through the actions of the town, Jack tidings shows us umteen of the loving ills that exist in our own lives. In todays society we practically comport an all too-casual attitude toward misfortune Jackson shows us this aspect of human nature through the towns casual attitude toward the lottery. The men talk of rain, tractors and taxes and the women gossipall the m knowing they are about to kill someone or be perhaps even be killed themselves (Jackson 863). The thing that is most important to them is to spate up and finish so they can eat lunch. Perhaps the whim of being in a hurry makes what theyre about to do easier they dont have time to let it bother them. How often in todays society do we hear the phrase, right hurry up and get it over with? The townspeople seem to have mixed emotions about the lottery they fear it yet on a very barbaric level they enjoy it. By standing out-of-door from the pile of stones, and keeping their distance from the black box, the villagers show their fear of the lottery (Jackson 863). However, once they find out who is going to be stoned, Tessie Hutchinson, they seem to real enjoy the stoning. One villager picks up a stone so volumed she can barely carry it someone even gives Tessies youngest son a few pebbles to throw at his mother. Their overall attitude about the stoning is summed up by the phrase and then they were... ...f their family (Jackson 867). In everyday life, we posses the same selfish attitude portrayed in the story. What is one of a childs favorite words? Its mine We invariably say well it s better you than me and its every man for himself. Its pretty scary _when you actually think about it, because you witness we really are that selfish. The Lottery is symbolic of any number of social ills that public blindly perpetrates (Friedman 108). The story is very shocking, precisely the reality of mankind is even more shocking. Isnt it funny that Jackson gives us a description of our nature, and not only do we not recognize it for what it is , but it shocks us. Works Cited Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York HarperCollins, 989. Friedman , Lenemgia. Shirley Jackson. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1975.