The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

http://scottengnote.blogspot.com/2007/10/lottery-shirley-jackson.html

http://scottengnote.blogspot.com/2007/10/lottery-shirley-jackson.html

"The Lottery"
by Shirley Jackson(1919-1965)

Structure:    I  . Preparation
                 II . the Lottery
                 III. the Result

What does the word "Lottery" mean?
        Origonal    : a money game

        In this story:    'Lottery in June, Corn be heavy soon.'  indicates this tradition is
                for a rich harvest.
                A tradition, uncivil, cruel,
                Individual right is going to be sacrificed for collective good?!
                A chosen one will become the scapegoat, the victim.
                A woman, a villager, a neighbor, a friend of other villager was
                stoned to death.

                    ironic,sarcastic
        The writer was using a harsh tone to question human nature. Why people keep
        foolish tradition without thinking.

Setting
    time    : modern time, the villagers were already using tractors. summer June 27th
    place    : some anonymous small village. Most people make a living by agriculture.
    It's a universal story: it could happen at any time ,any place

    Try to describe how Shirley Jackson pave the story.

    People prey to the goddess Demeter to earn her blessing.

I .Preparation of the lottery

    atmosphere: tension, anxiety

    gathering:     children: boys, girls
            adults   : men, women

    some names    distinguished (these names are quite symbolic)
            Bobby     Martin
            Harry   Jones
            Dickie    Delacroix: of the cross, pious, religious
            Mr.    Summers: host ->who conducts the ceremory
            Mr.    Graves
            Old man Warner: gives warnings, reminder
            the     Hutchinsons: a martyr
            the     Adams: first sinner

square is a place for social activities

Black wooden box------>tradition
color symbolism
shape: shabby
it suggested a coffin

details of the further preparation

count heads ------------->households
            families

incident: Mrs. Hutchinson came late hurriedly.
dramatic irony

"You're in time." is a dramatic ironic line of this story.
Mrs. Hutchinson is in time for death, sacrifice.

And It count the villagers from A to Z in sequence. No one was  excepted.
Can we call this lottery democratic ?

Listen to
NBC Short Story, NBC radio, 1951