The lottery is a game of chance that involves drawing lots to determine a winner. Prizes may be money, goods or services. It is a popular way to raise funds for public use. It is also used to distribute charitable prizes. The game has a long history, dating back to the Old Testament and the Roman Empire. Today, it is most commonly practiced in the United States and the Netherlands. It is considered a painless form of taxation, and some believe that it has improved morality among participants.
The short story by Shirley Jackson portrays a small unassuming community holding its yearly lottery. The villagers greet each other and exchange bits of gossip while their children play around in the square. The lottery is run by Mr. Summers, a man who represents authority in the town. He arrives in the square carrying a dark wooden box that holds the bits of paper that will be drawn. The villagers are excited about the event and begin to prepare for it.
One of the underlying themes in this story is that human nature is evil. The actions of the villagers in this story reveal that they are not above cheating or lying to one another. They also seem to condone these activities because they are part of their culture. Despite their faces being friendly, they are still deceitful. This is illustrated by the fact that Mrs. Hutchinson dies as a result of the lottery.
In this story, there are many characterization methods that the author uses to give the characters in the story depth and character. One method is the setting. The villagers are in a small, peaceful looking place and they behave in ways that would be out of the ordinary for other people. One of the most important characterization methods in this story is the actions of the villagers. They act in ways that reveal their personalities.
Although the story is about a lot of people, the villagers have one major thing in common. They all blindly follow outdated traditions and rituals. It is this lack of critical thinking that causes them to continue with these traditions even though they know it is wrong. This is a problem with democracy and shows that it is not always wise to follow the majority. People should be able to stand up against something that is not fair or just.
