Symbolism in The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson :: The Lottery Essays

Shirley Jacksons The Lottery is a chilling boloney of a harsh ritualistic gathering conducted by people of a small liquidation. The word lottery would typically remind someone of a drawing to win a cash prize. A better equality to the story would be the lottery used to select troops for the Vietnam struggle a lottery of wipeout. Another would be the human sacrifices the Aztecs leadingly make long ago.The story opens by embracing the reader with a relaxed beatting, loose the anticipation for an optimistic story. with the fresh warmth of a safe pass day the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green (p.445). The handling of children and school also gives well meaning of an organized and well-balanced village the people have put together, one the average parent would desire their children raised in. They tended to gather together quietly for a while out front they broke into boisterous play, and their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands (p.445). The thought of children performing also illustrates of a positive outlook for the rest of the story, a hotshot of happiness.It is also mentioned that the story begins on June twenty-seventh. With the fresh warmth of a full summer day (p.445). Again, the setting is depicted as a bright, happy place. The date is important, because the end of June is a time when the summer has fully set in, possibly giving the meaning that change is up ahead.While the supposition continues to be pleasant, the village gathers for what would appear to be a joyous feast everyone looks forward to. The lottery was conducted as were the square dances, the teen-age club, the Halloween program (p.445). In the story, Mr. Summers and Mr. grave are basically the two men in charge of devising sure the lottery is conducted each division. Mr. Summers name seems to represent the time of the year the lottery is conducted. Mr. Graves represents the grave the chosen lottery victim will be sent to, as he has no problem administering death to those close around him.The lottery itself is conducted in a black corner using paper-slips. The color black represents death, as the future of someones life will be decided from it. The dark mood is tangle when it is introduced. A general feeling of nervousness is spread throughout the crowd, the junior people in particular.