Symbolism in The Lottery Essay - 802 Words

To a first time reader, Shirley Jacksons â€Å"The Lottery† seems simply as a curious tale with a shocking ending. After repetitive reading of Jacksons tale, it is clear that each sentence is written with a unique purpose often using symbolism. Her use of symbols not only foreshadow its surprise and disturbing ending but allows the reader to evaluate the communitys pervert traditional rituals. She may be commenting on the season of the year and the grass being â€Å"richly green† or the toying with the meanings of the characters names but each statement applies to the meaning and lesson behind her story. As far as symbolism in objects, the most prominent and often mentioned is the â€Å"black box† from which the names are drawn from (Jackson 573).†¦show more content†¦Graves for permitted direction (Jackson 573). Ultimately there are only two views the townspeople have on the lottery; one is either for or against the ritual, but there are many reasons w hy one may form their opinion. Originally, winning of the lottery is meant to be of great honor, the sacrificial â€Å"lamb† offered to a Higher Power in hopes of receiving a plentiful season of crops for the overall community (Nebeker 8). †Life brings death, and death recycles life† (Griffen 5). Over time much of the accustomed songs and original ways of conducting the ceremony were lost becoming more of a nuisance (Griffen 5), and enabling the new generation to dream of a life without the lottery. Often it is the families who have experienced the lotterys winnings on a personal level that hold the strongest opinions. The Dunbar family lost their son to the lottery as well as young Jack Watson losing his father. Both families represent the pain of the personal loss caused by the lottery (Jackson 574-75). Jackson uses Old Man Warner as the towns consistent reminder of the origins and sanctity of the lottery and strongly blockading the community of change. His nam e refers to his constant warnings of what could come of losing the lottery and not respecting the tradition. After participating inShow MoreRelatedThe Lottery : Symbolism And Symbolism973 Words   |  4 PagesAfter reading The Lottery you might think about what you are actually winning in a lottery type setting. In the story which is enriched with irony and symbolism. As a reader interpreting the uses of each of these is crucial on discovering the full story. The shabby black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and the illogic of the villagers’ loyalty to it. The black box is nearly falling apart, hardly even black anymore after years of use and storage, but the villagers are unwillingRead MoreThe Lottery Symbolism649 Words   |  3 PagesIn Shirley Jacksons short story The Lottery, one of the main characters is Mr. Summers. The lottery was conducted--as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program--by Mr. Summers. 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The Lottery clearly expresses Jackson s feelings concerning mankind?s evil nature hiding behind traditions and ritualsRead MoreSymbolism Of The Lottery By Shirley Jackson926 Words   |  4 PagesWhen incorporated well, symbolism enhances a story’s overall impact. Shirley Jackson’s short story â€Å"The Lottery† contains symbolism to affect the readers’ feelings as well as add interest. The story begins with the villagers gathering at the square t o participate in the lottery. The villagers chat while waiting for the event to begin. After Mr. Summers comes with a black box, he stirs the pieces of paper in the box. The narrators describe the lottery as an old ritual that the community continues