The Lottery is a short story by Shirley Jackson that focuses on a small village in New England as it prepares to conduct its annual lottery. On the morning of June 27th, the villagers gather in the town square to participate in the lottery, a ritual that has been handed down for generations.
Despite its celebratory air, the lottery actually serves to select one person to be stoned to death as a sacrifice to ensure a successful harvest. The story focuses on the reactions of the characters, conveying the irony of a lottery based on luck in which the winner loses his or her life.
By the end of the lottery, an unlucky victim has been chosen—Tess Hutchinson, an innocent mother of two. The villagers try to put up a brave front as they cast their stones, killing Tess and ultimately demonstrating the power of tradition, no matter how barbaric.
In the end, Tess’ screams of protest serve to remind readers of the cruelty of the lottery that should not be easily accepted or overlooked.
What happened at the end of the lottery story?
At the end of the lottery story, it is revealed that Tessie Hutchinson had been randomly chosen as the “winner. ” She was forced to accept her fate, as the villagers drew straws to determine the winner and hers was the short straw.
The result of the lottery is that Tessie is stoned to death, to the horror and shock of the other villagers. The story ends with the stark line “the lottery was over. ” It serves as a reminder that blindly following tradition and ritual, without considering their implications, can have devastating consequences.
Why did tessie get stoned in the lottery?
Tessie got stoned in The Lottery because it was part of the ritual that took place every year in the small town where the story is set. As the villagers gathered for the drawing of names, the lottery was conducted in a highly specific and detailed fashion, which included stoning their own member of the community in the event that one of their names was drawn.
This was seen as a sacrifice of one person for the good of the whole community, with the belief being that it would bring a good harvest in the upcoming year. Though Tessie protested, having her name chosen in the drawing meant that she was the unlucky one to be stoned, and so the ritual was followed through on.
Who won in the lottery story?
The winner of the lottery story is not specified. The story simply revolves around a man who goes to buy a lottery ticket, praying that he would win the lottery so that his life and the life of his family could be changed for the better.
Although he does not win the lottery, it is suggested that the simple act of prayer and the hope of winning was enough to give him a sense of peace and contentment that he had been lacking previously.
Ultimately, the true winner in the story is the man himself, who was able to use the experience to find a newfound acceptance for his life and contentment with it.
What happens to Tessie at the end?
At the end of the story, Tessie is selected by lottery to be the sacrifice to the “lottery god”. Tessie is taken away by Mr. Summers and the men of the village, including her husband and two eldest sons, to the “black box” at the center of the village.
There, Tessie quickly discovers that the “lottery god” they are to sacrifice to is in fact a ritual execution. Tessie pleads and cries, but her pleas go unanswered and soon a stone is thrown at her by a member of the village and she is killed.
Tessie is replaced by a second stone and the villagers disperse, each with a feeling of dread and guilt for what they have done. This is the fate of Tessie at the end of the story.
Why is The Lottery a good story?
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a good story because it effectively conveys the creeping unease and fear that comes from being part of a dark tradition, and it is a thought-provoking exploration of themes like tradition, religion, conformity, and resistance.
Jackson’s writing style showcases her mastery of suspense and horrifying atmosphere, and she is able to draw readers in and make them consider the implications of the story. By setting it in a small, rural town, Jackson makes it easy to relate to the characters and their dilemma.
Through the characters’ reactions to the lottery, Jackson expertly builds a sense of mystery and unease that debunks the typical notion of a harmless game, and it leaves readers with a deep sense of dread.
The Lottery sheds light on the harmful effects of blind obedience and the danger of blindly following traditions without questioning them, making it an important read for anyone seeking to explore these topics.
Why should you read The Lottery by Shirley Jackson?
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is an iconic short story that has stood the test of time since its publication in 1948. It is a gripping tale about a small town that holds a mysterious lottery each year with a sinister underlying secret.
This story confronts important moral and ethical issues through its suspenseful narrative. On its surface, The Lottery is an intriguing read that examines issues such as mob mentality, conformity, and tradition.
Although the ending of the story leaves much to the imagination, it serves as a stark reminder to contemplate the consequences of blindly following tradition without critically examining our surroundings and why things are the way they are.
On a deeper level, The Lottery demonstrates the power of writing and how literature can be used as a tool to challenge society’s norms and encourage readers to think of certain practices in a new light.
By examining the characters and their motivations, readers can see how their own beliefs and values may change when confronted with different opinions or unexpected events.
The Lottery is a classic example of how a seemingly simple story can be used to convey a powerful message. Through its suspenseful narrative and complex characters, The Lottery offers an important insight into human nature and serves as a reminder to question the seemingly harmless traditions we often take for granted.
Is the story The Lottery morally justified?
No, the story The Lottery is not morally justified. This story is an example of how the power of tradition and a lack of critical thinking can lead to morally abhorrent consequences, such as condoning violence.
Additionally, the lottery itself is akin to a random death sentence and violates the principle that people should not be judged based on mere chance. Essentially, the story endorses a public execution every year as simply part of their tradition, without questioning the morality of it or exploring any possible alternatives.
The story also portrays a fatalistic attitude, which assumes that people are powerless before fate and unable to change their circumstances. This type of thinking is not conducive to the development of a just and progressive society.
What does The Lottery tell us about society?
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story that paints a bleak and terrifying picture of mob mentality in a small town setting. It tells us that in the absence of strong leadership, its citizens can become blindly devoted to tradition and lose their capacity for empathy and reason.
The story reflects society’s tendency to accept traditions and rituals with little critical thought, even when the implications of these practices are dubious at best. It shows how social pressure can result in people engaging in a socially-sanctioned act of violence against an innocent person—in this case, a woman who seems to represent the human instinct to survive.
The Lottery illustrates the dark side of conformity, and how it can lead to people acting without morality or conscience, without challenge or thought. It is a reminder to stay vigilant to conformist mentality, and to not forget our own moral compasses when faced with potential mob mentality.
What lesson does The Lottery teach?
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson teaches a powerful lesson about blindly following traditions, the power of mob mentality, and the dangers of drawing conclusions without questioning what lies underneath the surface.
The story follows a town that ritualistically engages in a practice known as “the lottery,” which only becomes clear to be a cruel and morbid punishment of one individual by the end of the story. The townspeople, who have blindly and unquestioningly followed this tradition for generations, ultimately reveal themselves to be oppressive and merciless in following out the “winning” ticket in spite of the desperate protests of the victim and her family.
This story demonstrates the importance of questioning tradition and its implications, as well as the importance of setting clear and consistent boundaries to determine the difference between justified sacrifice and unchecked cruelty.
It challenges us to consider why traditions exist and whether they are effective tools in creating a positive society or if they are systems of oppression in themselves. Furthermore, Jackson’s story shows us how easily even decent people can be led astray to conform to mob mentality–and how quickly it can become lethal.
It serves to caution us against the potential of becoming oppressive figures who turn away from our own sense of values or morals in order to follow traditions.
What lesson did you learn from the story of the lottery?
The story of the Lottery reveals several important lessons. The first is that blindly following tradition without question is a dangerous and potentially deadly path to take. Despite the community’s acceptance of the annual lottery, it was still ultimately a form of violent sacrifice and oppression.
Consequently, we should question any traditions before engaging in them to be aware of their potential implications.
The story also teaches us to think critically and weigh our choices carefully, even when we feel outnumbered or overwhelmed by societal pressure. The protagonist, Mrs. Hutchinson, initially went along with the other villagers, but ultimately stood up for what she knew to be right and threw away the lottery ticket.
Additionally, it reminds us to be mindful of the consequences of our actions. The villagers are completely desensitized to the brutality of the lottery and its ultimate aim of sacrificing one of their own — a theme that is reflective of real-world situations.
This highlights the importance of understanding the consequences of our decisions and encouraging peaceful solutions rather than turning to violence.
Finally, it serves as a reminder of the danger of mob mentality. Even though each individual could potentially oppose the lottery, they still followed the rules without question. This speaks to the notion that it’s easy to get carried away in a group dynamic and lose sight of our individual values and morals.
Overall, the story of the Lottery is a warning about the dangers of blindly following tradition and the power of criticism and individual autonomy in creating a more peaceful and just society.
What is morally justified?
Morally justified means something that meets the standards of morality. Morality is subjective in nature and can depend largely on cultural and religious beliefs, so what is considered moral by one person may not necessarily be considered moral by another.
Generally though, morality involves the concepts of right and wrong, justice, and fairness. Ethical principles and values, such as respect for life and human dignity, compassion, honesty, and integrity may also be taken into account when determining what is morally justified.
Ultimately, what is morally justified will ultimately depend on the context and the particular situation at hand.