In the United States, where lotteries are legal, people buy tickets for a chance to win money or goods. The winner is determined by drawing lots. The odds of winning depend on how many tickets are sold and the total value of the prizes. In some states, the winners are required to share their prize money with a charity. This helps ensure that the money is used for good causes. In addition to the prizes, a lottery may offer educational scholarships, medical research, and civic projects. In the 19th century, lottery prizes funded public institutions like Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, King’s College (now Columbia), Union, and Brown.
Shirley Jackson’s 1948 short story “The Lottery” continues to resonate, despite its dark and disturbing subject matter. Its unsettling evocation of a bucolic small-town ritual that ends in brutal violence has made it one of the most frequently anthologized American stories. In fact, it’s hard to find a book or anthology of short stories that does not include “The Lottery.” It has been analyzed and scrutinized for its meaning and literary techniques, but the story’s central theme remains as compelling today as when it was first published.
The story begins with the narrator’s depiction of a peaceful town square in an unnamed village on a sunny summer day. The narrator explains that villagers will gather to participate in the annual lottery, which takes about two hours. Children recently on summer break are the first to assemble in the square, followed by adult men and then women. The villagers exhibit the stereotypical normality of small-town life, warming up for the lottery and warmly gossiping about their work and family matters.
As the villagers begin to select their tickets, Mrs. Delacroix, who has been friendly with Tessie throughout the story, chooses a stone so large it requires both hands to hold. She protests that the lottery is not fair, but her pleas are ignored. As soon as the draw is complete, villagers begin to hurl stones at Tessie.
As in real-life, lottery participants are often misled by the illusion of control. Even when the outcomes are entirely dependent on chance, people often believe that they can increase their chances of winning by exercising skill. This is why so many players are tempted to buy extra tickets or purchase scratch-offs in the hope that they will improve their luck. The story also suggests that societies based on tradition will sometimes oppress certain groups in order to valorize patriarchal culture. Jackson reveals how easily and insidiously such cultural practices can be condoned, even by those who would describe themselves as “good Americans.” Tessie’s death also serves as a reminder of the importance of gender equity in all societies. Women, along with ethnic and religious minorities, are often scapegoated in order to perpetuate traditional norms that serve primarily to protect the social status of male members of the community.
