The Lottery

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

     This short story conveyed an important message using symbolism. Moreover, by conveying the moral or message of the story in a disturbing way, Jackson helps her audience contemplate why they follow their own traditions. Symbolism used in the story comes from Old Man Warner. He represents the constant holding onto the past and never deviating from tradition. “ ‘Some places have already quit lotteries,’ Mrs. Adams said. ‘Nothing but trouble in that,’ Old Man Warner said stoutly. ‘Pack of young fools,’ ” (Jackson, 269).He is the oldest man in the village and has survived the lottery more times than everyone else. Moreover, he is the only one who knows the reason for the lottery, which is to kill someone to have fruitful and bountiful crops. Everyone else is following the lottery tradition blindly. Times have changed and there is no longer a purpose for it. Also, villagers continue to follow the old tradition of the lottery without knowing the reason why they stone their one of their friends or family members to death. How can they stone their own friends and family members without knowing why they are doing it?! The story conveys a powerful message to not follow traditions blindly because they can hurt others and the purpose of the tradition could be meaningless.