The theme of the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is that of violence and ritualistic tradition as a means of blind acceptance and obedience. It centers around an annual lottery ritual in a small town in which a person is randomly chosen to be the sacrificial scapegoat for the good fortune of the town.
It reflects on the consequences of blindly following traditions out of fear of retribution and backlash from the community. In the story, the people of the town participate in the lottery despite the fact that it is nonsensical and has no clear purpose other than old custom.
The townspeople go along with the tradition out of fear and are willing to even go to the lengths of killing in order to maintain the status quo. The message that Jackson conveys with the story is that upholding vicious and unexplainable traditions is a dangerous thing that can have devastating consequences.
Through the story, she calls into question our own social and religious norms, and urges us to think twice before blindly accepting them.
What are the main themes that The Lottery revolves around?
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story that revolves around several key themes. First, the story highlights the dangers of blindly following tradition and being unable to question long-standing customs.
The Lottery has been held on the same day for decades, and the citizens of the town never question why or how this tradition came to be. They simply accept it.
The story also demonstrates the dangers of mob mentality and blindly obeying authority without critically thinking. After the Lottery is chosen, there is an obvious feeling of dread and fear among the townsfolk as they come to accept that an innocent person will be stoned to death.
Even when Mr. Summers raises the idea of giving up the tradition and people show some distaste for the proceedings, nobody voices an objection.
Third, The Lottery serves as an allegory for the dangers of sexism in society, as Tessie — the ultimate victim of the Lottery — is only chosen due to her gender. The men of the town draw for their families, and the woman — Tessie — is the only one whose fate is decided by the Lottery process itself.
This has a direct correlation to how women were often overlooked and treated as second-class citizens in society at this time, and this theme speaks to the story on a much deeper level.
The Lottery is an extremely powerful story, and these themes help to make it even more engaging and thought-provoking. The story serves as a warning against blindly following traditions and the dangers of mob mentality, while also making a strong statement about sexism and the need to speak out and challenge potential injustices.
How is family a theme in The Lottery?
Family is a prominent theme in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson as it serves to emphasize aspects of tradition, loyalty, and obedience. In the story, the villagers have practiced the lottery for generations, and it plays a key role in holding the families and community together.
Throughout the story, the families of the town come together to select a winner for the lottery, showing their commitment to their community and to the tradition. This is exemplified by the way Tess Hutchinson’s family sticks together, even when Tess is chosen as the “winner.
” The other villagers express their support for the Hutchinson family, signifying their shared community values. Additionally, the way the townspeople follow the tradition and obey the accepted social order is also a key example of how family ties are fundamental to how the lottery is carried out.
Despite the cruel nature of the event, the families remain loyal and supportive to one another while they participate in the lottery, demonstrating the strength of their ties and how the tradition is passed down to the next generations.
Therefore, family is a key theme in The Lottery and serves to illustrate how loyalty and obedience are tightly intertwined with the maintenance of tradition.
What is theme in a story?
Theme is an underlying message or moral in a story. It is what the story is about, or the universal idea of the message the author is trying to convey. A theme can be indicated by certain major plot points or characters, particular settings and motifs, or more subtle references.
For example, a common theme in many stories is the triumph of good over evil. This can be seen through characters striving to do good, the importance of friendship, or the power of love. Another popular theme is self-discovery, in which characters learn about themselves and their place in the world.
These are just a few examples, however, and literature can have any number of themes.
What are two 2 different types of conflict in The Lottery?
The Lottery, written by Shirley Jackson, examines the dangers of blindly following tradition and provides a cautionary tale of the consequences these traditions can have. It portrays a village’s annual lottery drawing, which has been around for centuries and is considered to be tradition.
There are two primary conflicts presented in the story: man vs. society and man vs. himself.
The first type of conflict is man vs. society. This is seen through protagonist Tessie Hutchinson, who is the unfortunate winner of the lottery. Throughout the narrative, we see her and her family treated as outcasts and Tessie doesn’t agree with the lottery’s rules.
This conflict between Tessie and the community is a struggle for identity and freedom, showcasing the dangers of blindly following tradition.
The second type of conflict is man vs. himself. This is seen through Mrs. Hannah Delacroix, an elderly woman who is said to be in her nineties and takes part in the lottery. Despite her age, she still participates and is even hoping to draw the winning ticket.
This portrays the struggle between Mrs. Delacroix’s desire for tradition and the knowledge that it could cause her harm.
Overall, The Lottery presents two types of conflicts: man vs. society and man vs. himself. It showcases the danger in blindly following tradition and serves as a reminder that it can have serious and dangerous consequences.
Which statement summarizes a central theme of the lottery?
The central theme of the lottery is that blindly following tradition can perpetuate injustice and violence, leading to tragically unfortunate consequences. It highlights how collective traditions, even if they are centuries old, should be reevaluated in order to ensure that they do not lead to harm.
It suggests that blindly following seemingly harmless customs can have dangerous and irreversible consequences and that change is needed in order to maintain a safe, just, and compassionate society.
Which of the following can be theme of The Lottery?
The Lottery is a classic and timeless short story by Shirley Jackson that has been interpreted in a number of ways since it was first published in 1948. One of the core themes of the story is the danger of blindly following tradition and the consequences of unchecked conformity.
The lottery takes place in an unnamed village of an unspecified year and the people living there are all part of a long-standing annual tradition where each family draws a slip of paper from a black box.
The story has no clear main characters, and instead focuses on the entire village, which is united in this yearly event. Through this core theme, the story is able to explore a wide range of related topics, such as mob mentality and groupthink, the power of fear, superstition and the dehumanizing aspects of rituals and traditions.
Additionally, it is possible to explore themes that emerge from the underlying questions of morality raised by the lottery. For example, the issues of justice and equality, the nature and morality of certain types of violence, as well as the power dynamics between members of societies are all explored in The Lottery.
Ultimately, The Lottery paints a picture of a society that ultimately values conformity over understanding, and is willing to sacrifice an individual for the ‘greater good’.