Traditions In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

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When people think about the lottery, they see it as the answer to their problems. In the past this hasn’t been entirely true. Many past lottery winners say that winning the lottery ruined their lives. The lottery can’t ruin you life, if it takes it. In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery” , she writes about a small town that holds a lottery every year. The “winner” is stoned to death by the rest of the town. This is a tradition that has been around longer than the oldest man in town. Jackson’s use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and character motivation helps to portray the theme that traditions aren’t always a good thing. In the story Jackson makes sure to point out a specific character, Tessie Hutchinson, for being late to the lottery.
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