The Lottery by Shirley Jackson: 15 Questions and Answers

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson: 15 Questions and Answers

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 "The Lottery" satirizes the blind adherence to outdated traditions and systems that no longer serve any real purpose.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 bo…