What is the purpose of the lottery?
The lottery results in a person being stoned to death, but its original purpose is unclear. Old Man Warner suggests that it may have started as a ritual to ensure a good harvest, but the real reason for the lottery is lost to time and has become irrelevant to the community.
What does "The Lottery" satirize?
"The Lottery" satirizes the blind adherence to outdated traditions and systems that no longer serve any real purpose. The village’s unquestioning obedience to the lottery highlights how societies can maintain harmful practices simply because they are seen as tradition.
How does Tessie change throughout the story?
Initially, Tessie is portrayed as a carefree, attention-loving character. However, when her family is selected for the lottery, Tessie quickly becomes outspoken and argues against the unfairness of the ritual, only to be rejected by the community and ultimately stoned to death.
What does the black box symbolize?
The black box symbolizes both the deep-rooted history of the lottery tradition and the horrific nature of the ritual. Its shabby, deteriorating condition reflects the outdated and destructive nature of the practice, which the villagers refuse to abandon despite its obvious flaws.
Why does the tradition of the lottery still exist in the village?
The lottery persists because the villagers have grown complacent in their tradition and fail to challenge it. Despite occasional discussions of replacing the black box or abandoning the ritual, the practice continues simply because no one dares to stop it, highlighting their unquestioning loyalty to tradition.
What role does Old Man Warner play in the story?
Old Man Warner represents staunch tradition. He is fiercely loyal to the lottery, believing that stopping it would regress the village to primitive times. His adherence to tradition underscores the danger of clinging to outdated customs without questioning their morality or necessity.
How is the randomness of the lottery significant?
The lottery is completely random, with no individual deserving or guilty of being chosen. This randomness symbolizes the arbitrary nature of persecution, highlighting how innocent people can suffer because of random circumstances, much like various forms of prejudice in society.
How does the village react to the chosen victim?
Once Tessie is selected, the villagers quickly turn against her. Even her own family members participate in her brutal stoning, illustrating how people can be easily swept up in group mentality, abandoning empathy for tradition's demands.
What is the significance of the lottery drawing?
The drawing itself symbolizes the arbitrary nature of the lottery, where the outcome is purely chance and not based on any moral or rational considerations. This randomness is key to understanding the cruelty of the ritual and how individuals are chosen for sacrifice without reason.
How does Jackson portray human nature in the story?
Jackson portrays human nature as capable of great cruelty when influenced by tradition and societal pressure. The villagers, including friends and family, display a shocking disregard for the life of the chosen victim, revealing a darker side of human behavior.
What is the role of gender in the story?
Gender plays a role in the way the villagers interact with the lottery, with women like Tessie initially being marginalized but later becoming central to the event’s dramatic conclusion. Tessie’s fate underscores how societal roles can become irrelevant when it comes to blind adherence to tradition.
How does the setting contribute to the story’s impact?
The village setting is described as peaceful and idyllic, which contrasts sharply with the violence of the lottery, heightening the shock value of the story’s conclusion. This juxtaposition challenges the reader’s assumptions about the nature of peace and violence.
What role does peer pressure play in the story?
Peer pressure is a significant force in the village, as no one dares to question the lottery despite its brutality. The community’s collective conformity ensures that the ritual continues, with individuals like Tessie only speaking out once it’s too late.
What is the message about tradition in the story?
"The Lottery" critiques the dangers of blindly following tradition without questioning its morality or necessity. Jackson suggests that traditions can become harmful when they are preserved mindlessly, even when their original purpose is forgotten.
|
| @ Class with Mason: All Rights Reserved |
