Analysis Of Lottery By Shirley Jackson - Research Paper Example

Analysis Of Lottery By Shirley Jackson 1. Introduction The lottery is a tale about a village's tradition of stoning an individual annually based on a lucky draw. Although at times the prose makes the readers cringe at the brutality of the human race and the shackles of customs yet the story is an interesting piece of literature to highlight the various literary devices that amalgamate in order to create a story. Literary devices offer color, uniqueness or dynamism to a work. 2. Analysis The various literary devices that can be easily found in the story The Lottery includes the importance of the title, setting, and tone, thematic concerns and symbolism. 2.1. Title Generally, it is observed that the title of a piece of work provides the readers with some hints regarding the content and the context of the prose. However, in this story, the title gives an ironic twist to the context of the story because the writer's intent is to highlight that the death penalty on the basis of some old customs is not the manner in which civilized and educated human beings should behave. Moreover unlike the other lotteries for which human beings are very eager in this case the lottery is like a curse which yields the power of ending a life of an individual. Hence the title of the story is in contrast to the milieu that the story presents. As Harold Bloom also says that, "in true Shirley Jackson fashion, the suspense is built around the unknown nature of this particular lottery" (24). Hence the title of the story also arouses curiosity in the readers which further adds up to the suspense. 2.2. Setting and Tone The setting of the story is a deceptively tranquil village which does not hint upon the inhabitants’ potential for violence. It is observed that the lottery takes place on a warm summer day where the kids of the town have just got out of school for summer break. The story commences with the sound of happy kids in the background gathering stones to pile around the square for the lottery. The women and men of the town gather around as well, happy and gossiping while they wait for the lottery to begin. The setting of the story is very specific and the readers are presented with every minute detail while the lottery is taking place. Emotions of the villagers are beginning to express some sort of discomfort. Moreover, the duplicity of some of the villager is also revealed before the actual event takes place. So the setting of the story hardly contributes to the central idea but it stimulates the climax greatly. The story is narrated in third person narration which the author uses as a tool to let the readers experience the whole incident as a part of the spectators gathered there. Since the third person narration technique not only stimulates the imagination of the readers but also provides them with an impartial view of the whole spectacle. As the story commences the tone of the text is peaceful same as the tranquil setting describing friendships and depicting healthy relationships of affection, familiarity, and closeness. Although the tone of the story remains the same yet towards the end the text reveals a cruel aspect of human nature. 2.3. Thematic Concern The major themes of the story include the theme of death, theme of conformity and selfish existence. The theme of death in the story highlights that the survival instinct is so strong in human beings that they will go to any lengths in order to survive. As also observed in the case of Tessie who raises a hue and a cry and claims that it is a mistake in order to save herself. As it is mentioned in the text as well that, “she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. ‘It isn't fair,’…‘It isn't fair, it isn't right,’ Mrs. Hutchinson screamed and then they were upon her” (9). The theme of death in the story is also interlinked with the theme of tradition because it is due to the old customs that Tessie is sentenced to being stoned to death. This can also be interpreted as Shirley Jackson’s idea of manhunt. She depicts it under the context of the insensitivity of the ancestors who had started a tradition. A tradition that results in the death of one of the villagers every year as observed in the case of Tessie who is expected to give her life as her name is on the last chit and is going to be stoned to death. Moreover, it also shows the burden on the successors who are brought up in a manner that they are afraid to denounce their traditions as the villagers say, “over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery." Old Man Warner snorted, "Pack of crazy fools… Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'” (6). This shows that the cultural influence is so strong that they consider it a big sin and hate the people who have let go of the pottery tradition. As D'Ammassa also believes that, “the story is a clear indictment of the pressure of conformity. Not only the townspeople refuse to question the rightness of the ceremony, the immediately redefine the winner/loser as an outsider, no longer under the protection of the community” (130). Moreover as stated earlier that death triggers a very natural and humane reaction in every human being i.e. survival instinct so the theme of selfishness can also be inferred from Tessie's actions. Trupe (2006) says that "Extreme conditions it is believed to bring out humans' true toughness and intelligence" (217). As also observed in Tessie's case that earlier when she had never been subjected to such torture she never thought that it was wrong. However, when she became the victim she realized it is very unfair to her. Hence she in such a dire situation she tries to argue with other villagers that, "You didn’t give him time enough to take any paper that he wanted. I saw you. It isn’t fair” (p. 9) but it was her fate that did not allow her a second chance. The strains of selfishness are also apparent in the reactions of all the villagers as well while selecting the papers because every individual wish that may the victim be their friends but not their family or themselves. 2.4. Symbolism The Lottery comprises a variety of symbols which helps the readers in understanding the text better. Moreover, these symbols also foreshadow the twists that might occur in the story. For example, the date of the story i.e. June twenty-seventh is significant as Helen E. Nebeker states in American Literature that it has "symbolic overtones which alert us to the season of the summer solstice with all its overtones of ancient ritual" (Bloom 102). The names of the characters in the story are also laden with meaning. The names of Summers, Graves and Mrs. Delacorix hint at the true nature of the characters. In Mr. Summers case his name reflects life however, in reality, he is in charge of the lottery which instead of giving life to its winner it gives death. Hence this also represents the ironic twist which the author utilizes to reiterate that life is full of contradictions. Graves is the man who carries in “the black box and the three-legged stool” (4). His name hints to what will happen to Tessie Hutchinson. It is also Mr. Graves who gives the papers to the citizens, therefore, it is almost like he is the one who has the most influence over whose grave it will be next. Mrs. Delacroix's name means of the cross in Latin; therefore hinting at Tessie's sacrificial killing. Even though Mrs. Delacroix seems to be a friend to Mrs. Hutchinson it is she who is shown to pick up the largest rock and promotes other people to stone Tessie. The black box is another important symbol in the story. It is described as "the black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained” (5).The shabby black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and the misconceived loyalty of the villagers to that tradition. The black color can also be associated with death as well as the ignorance of the literate people of the village who still conform to a centuries-old brutal tradition. Moreover black is also the color of evil. Helen E. Nebeker states that in the “box symbol, Jackson certainly suggests the body of tradition …which the dead hand of the past codified in religion, mores, government, and the rest of culture, and passed from generation to generation, letting it grow ever more cumbersome, and indefensible” (Bloom 104). 3. Conclusion Hence in The Lottery, there are two types of conflict that the readers learn about i.e. internal and external. Although these conflicts do not emerge till until the end of the story the author begins setting up the conflict from the very beginning. The external conflict is the dilemma of the villagers who loved Tessie yet because of the fear of being named the so-called lucky person they are not willing to redo the lottery. While Tessie's internal conflict is the realization that this lottery is nothing but a form of torturing human beings and it is unethical. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Shirley Jackson. New York: Chelsea House of Publishers, 2001. Print. Bloom, Harold. American women fiction writers, Volume 2. Chelsea House of Publishers, 1997. Print. D'Ammassa, Don. Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Trupe, Alice. Thematic Guide to Young Adult Literature. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print. Read More