Blind Adherence to Tradition and Human Vulnerability in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery
Overview
This essay analyzes Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery to explore themes of human vulnerability and the dangers of blindly following tradition. Through the experience of protagonist Tessie Hutchinson and other villagers, the paper argues that unquestioning adherence to ritualistic practices can lead to violence, inhumanity, and victimization, regardless of individual innocence.
What this essay covers
- Introduction establishing the main themes of vulnerability and blind tradition-following in The Lottery
- Analysis of the annual ritual and how all villagers, including children, are placed at risk through the random selection process
- Detailed examination of Tessie Hutchinson's experience as the lottery's victim and how the community turns against her despite her innocence and protests
Preview
The Lottery
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The Lottery
People’s vulnerability is one of the main themes in The Lottery. The main message by the author is the risk of following traditions blindly. The lottery is a tradition that is performed annually, and the villagers follow it dutifully. On 27th June each year, an individual is chosen to be ritually sacrificed (Jackson, 2005). A group of villagers prosecutes individuals randomly, and the victims are guilty of just drawing the wrong slip of paper from the box. The traditional ritual of the lottery is designed in such a way that it puts all villagers at risk of becoming victims. Even children are likely to become victims. A new victim is chosen and killed every year, and no one is safe. Although they have committed no crime, the selected party’s innocence does not matter.
Following tradition for the sake of it can result in violence, inhumanity, or victimization. The idea is predominantly analyzed through the experience of Tessie Hutchinson. She becomes the winner of the yearly lottery after choosing a marked slip of paper. When that happens, the villagers swiftly turn against her, and she loses her identity as a well-known housewife (Jackson, S. 2005). Tessie essentially becomes insignificant to her family and friends in the fervor of persecution. The people who once mattered to Hutchinson take part in her killing with enthusiasm and the rest.