The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Essay Example

Introduction

American Literature is well-known for its short stories. How the author organizes and presents their work of literature will determine how short stories are written. Quality is more important than the length of short stories. Some of the most acclaimed masters in this field are represented in the American literature portfolio. Edgar Poe and Jack London are among the most renowned short-story writers.

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Literary Elements in "The Lottery"

A short story must have five elements. These elements are plot, setting and character. Conflict, conflict and the theme are all important. How well these elements are used will determine the quality of any story. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", a short story that uses these elements well, is an example. "The Lottery" tells the story of human atrocities committed within a village. Although the story received a lot of criticism when it was first published, it is still regarded today as one of the most important stories in literature history (Hattenhauer 43). This paper examines the use of short stories in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery".

The setting for "The Lottery"

The location of "The Lottery", is in a small American town. About three hundred people live in the village, and they are both excited about the possibility of an annual lottery ritual. The ritual is held on a sunny June day (Jackson 234). This ritual is mandatory for all villager, including children. The 1930s setting for "The Lottery", is synonymous with many small towns. Oppenheimer 32 said that most of the protests against the book came from these towns when it was first published. The familiar setting allowed the author to grab readers' attention and capture their interest.

The plot of "The Lottery"

The lottery is a ritual that is practiced in all villages. This is the basis of "The Lottery". This ritual is intended to forgive the sins of the village and ensure that the annual harvest does not suffer. One of the villager's favorite proverbs is "Lottery in June. Corn be heavy soon." (Jackson 234). Each family was responsible for drawing lots from a specific box. A family that draws a lot with a black spot must sacrifice one member of their family.

Mr. Summers is the man in charge of "The Lottery", and he also performs several duties for the village. The village mob executes the ritual by stoneing the chosen person to death. The story's plot is well-written and includes an introduction, climax and an end. Jackson's story has a thrilling climax, where one villager is being eliminated. The story's ending leaves readers stunned because many of them believed that the sacrificed human being would be spared.

Sonflict in the "The Lottery"

In the story, conflict is reserved. The villagers are united in their annual lottery, so it appears that there is no conflict at the beginning. There is a rumor that some villages are considering quitting the lottery ritual. This is the only sign of conflict. Mrs. Adams, one of the villagers, claims that the lottery has been discontinued in certain villages. However, she is opposed to Old Man Warner (Jackson 237). It seems that there is an internal psychological conflict as most of the villager don't seem to support the lottery, even though they do participate in it. Tessie Hutchinson protests her execution, but this conflict turns into a physical and external one.

Characteristics of "The Lottery"

The story is rich in character development, with the main antagonist being lottery. The human will is the protagonist of "The Lottery". The villager symbolizes the human will to continue with a tradition that they don't like. The story's characters follow the battle of the will of humans and the ritual continues as planned.

Themes from "The Lottery"

"The Lottery", although there are many themes, focuses on the dangers of blind tradition. They don't question the validity of this tradition, and they only have one reason to not do so: it is a tradition. This idea is absurd, as the author presents people from different lifestyles together in one picture. Family unity is another main theme of this story.

Conclusion

Every family is entitled to the lottery. As the lottery proceeds, family members find themselves in a losing battle. Even more complicated is the fact that one family member can be lost for its own gain. Jackson chose this theme because it was popular in America in the 1950s.

The author of "The Lottery", has successfully utilized all elements of a short story. This result is a story that has strong themes, great characters and a beautiful setting. It also has an easy-to-understand plot. This story is interesting and relevant because of the combination of all these elements.

Works Cited

Hattenhauer, Darryl. Shirley Jackson’s American Gothic, New York, NY: SUNY Press, 2003. Print.

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery and Other Stories, London, United Kingdom: Penguin, 2009. Print.

Oppenheimer, Judy. Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson, New York, NY: Putnam, 1988. Print.