Four levels of ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson

Ain’t nothing like Easy money in the world. Trying to be Rich via fast track has its own consequences, and that ain’t no pleasure.

That’s what you learn from Shirley Jackson’s masterpiece – The Lottery.

So here are the four levels of interacting with the text for “The Lottery”!

For more notes of BBA Second Semester English II, CLICK HERE!

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The Lottery

Shirley Jackson

1. Literal Comprehension (Summary):

The residents of a small village gather at 10 am on June 27 in the square between the post office and the bank for the annual lottery. A bright sun is shining down on fragrant flowers and green lawns while the townspeople—more than 300 of them—await the arrival of Mr. Summers and the black wooden box from which everyone is to draw a folded slip of paper. Adults chat while the children play a game in which they gather stones. Whoever draws the slip of paper with the black dot on it will receive all of the lottery “proceeds”. Over the years, the lottery rules and trappings remained the same for minor changes: wooden chips were replaced by the slips of paper, and ritual chants and salutes preceding the drawings were eliminated. Other than those modernizations, the same old rules prevailed year after year.

No one in the square knows why on earth or under what circumstances the lottery began. All they know is that it is a tradition—a tradition that they are not willing to abandon.

After Mr. Summers shows up with the black box, he sets it down and prepares for the drawing. A housewife, Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson, arrives late just then telling Mrs. Delacroix that she has actually forgotten it is the lottery day, until she noticed that her children had left her house and remembered it was the day of the lottery.

Each of the townspeople draws a folded slip of paper but doesn’t open it until everyone has drawn. When the big moment arrives, it’s Tessie Hutchinson who has the paper with the black dot. Everyone then closes in on her, picks up rocks – the “proceeds” of the lottery – and stones her to death.

2. Interpretation:

This text highlights the reluctance of people to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices. This is due to our historic construction. Human beings are fearful creature. It makes them selfish and the society wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear the sins of the community. People always want to be on the safe-side. Human beings want to explore prosperity, but at the cost of others—making others suffer for one’s pleasure (Freaking @ssholes). So humans can’t be trusted. There is no such thing as love and trust. Besides, this text implies that following the crowd can have disastrous consequence. Human beings are so crazy that they worship unknown entity for unknown power. Overall, this text depicts the village life.

3. Critical Thinking

This text is so beautifully constructed that each and every character has significant role. Not only this, even each word is worth reading in the text. The incident not only takes place in a only one character’s life. There is a balance of narration and dialogue. The story may be primitive, but the theme is modern and still applicable.

Jackson may not have the intention of claiming that she extraordinary writing with odd sounding story but she must have wished to satire human selfishness, human follies and human cruelty.

But there are some loopholes, few though. How can the villagers go back to work after executing an innocent woman by stoning her to death as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened? The villagers should have had the conscience not to include the children in such a cruel lottery. And how can the same family members: Nancy and Bill Jr. laugh when they know that their father or mother will draw the lot with black spot and die. Above all the lottery suggests drawing for prize, but here, the prize is unusual— the price of life—a merciless death.

4. Assimilation:

The first and most important thing I learnt from the text: Never take part in the god damn lottery. (Remember that “Hurley” from the “LOST” series who wins the multi-million lottery and all bad fortunes fall upon him… Beware!) Lottery is taken as short cut to prosperity by many people, but in fact, it is short-cut to HELL, because getting something without one’s own effort doesn’t sustain, and it is a cause of suffering in the life. Instead by being a slave to the blind traditions, we should revolt against such nonsense beliefs. We should think logically so that it is justice for every people.

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Bonus Section

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And if you are having a hard time getting control of your life, you should kick start your life again. Don't be a rat. The problem with the rat race is that even if you win the race, you'll still be a rat. Read some inspirational articles here:

Quit that Rat Race!
&
Trust me... I lied!

As you will graduate through this BBA before you know what hit you... you should read this one: Kickass MBA

For more BBA Second Semester notes on English II, CLICK HERE!

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