The short story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a horrific tale of what a society can really do when they follow traditions blindly. This reminds me of the book and movie The Hunger Games but at least their traditions are meant for food and more of twisted purpose then this petty Lottery that lost it's meaning a long time ago. Ignorance was the to blame for many reasons, first reason would be the black box, which isn't even there original box be used for the lottery in fact the original boxes lost many many years ago, even before the town elder was born the Black box was lost. Even Mr Summers at times suggest to revamp the shabby old not original black box but no one wants to mess with tradition. On thr flip side and much hypocritical not Mr summer did convince the village to chagne there wood chip lottery tickets to slips of paper. Second reason, I don't understand how these parents complain just letting children of their children of the village get killed or stoned to death by a blindly immoral and unethical tradition. Thirdly, the way the village doesn't know their own anthem, song and salute, but these have been lost. to this annual tradition that happens every June 27th. Fourth reason is Even though there is some people that want to stop the lottery the elders think it will only cause chaos isolation and trouble as he put it in the book, if they stop the lottery. Concluding with the fifth ridiculous and final reason, How can there be some many poeple complying and alowing the chance of their children dying and not doing anything about it because it’s a tradition of the village’s.This is also a perfect example of diffusion of responsibility. Diffusion of responsibility is a tendency for individuals in large groups to avoid responsibility and usually conforming and complying with a negative or normlessness action/activity by being apart of it but doing nothing about it since they are in a large group expecting one of the other people in that group to do something in instead of them. For some reason I think back symbolically on all the times and situations in the our past history when stuff like this happens. Hangings of African Americans during the 1950’s. How there would +be groups of people and even parents bringing their children to watch these immoral lynchings like it was a family tradition to hate a specific race and watch them die like it’s okay. It’s not right to just kill people for no reason. Marriage, for instance, was created so the man of the family had a specific person that all his stuff will go to when he dies. Women at that time were even considered assets. But if the man didn’t have children then all assets would go to his wife.but ever since the industrial revolution and child labor laws were upheld all children and wives turn from assets to liabilities.
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When I first heard of the Hunger Games, it was a total reminder of The Lottery, and clearly inspired by Shirley Jackson's work. The blind adherence to tradition and authority showing a terrifying willingness in people to turn on their friends and neighbors. The Hunger Games is an excellent example of a modern retelling of The Lottery.
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I enjoyed reading your analysis. I will have to see The Hunger Games now so I can see the comparison to this story. You did a great job breaking down all the ridiculousness of this lottery
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Great analysis. I definitely thought this resonated with "The Hunger Games" as well and I included a brief mention of that book/movie in my own analysis. There are many instances in this short story where I pictured characters from that movie in the town square.
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Interesting perspective! And I dig that you reference the Hunger Games! I also thought that you mentioning the fact that the villagers don't even know their own anthem is specifically poignant. It just speaks to the fact that tradition is valued far more than meaning and purpose.
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