Analysis of the Lottery by Shirley Jackson

“The Lottery”

The Lottery is a short-story written by Shirley Jackson that is told in the third

person.  She tells the story using humor and irony with a big suspenseful ending

to the lottery ceremony.

The Lottery uses situational irony in this story because the reader is led to believe

 that the lottery will end with someone receiving something good. In The Lottery,

the readers are led  believe that June 27th is just as normal as any other day in

this particular village. People seem to be going about their normal day, ready to

take part in this two hour ceremony.  Children have gathered and collected piles

 of stones.  Then the reader learns that there are some villagers that are nervous

about this day, and further reading divulges that there are even some villagers

that would like to do away with this ceremony completely.  At the story’s end we

 learn the real truth behind the lottery: it is actually a deadly ritual resulting in one

of the villagers being stoned to death by family and friends.  This is a practice that

has been going on for as long as the villages oldest member can recall.  The reader

 learns how important it is to this small town to follow tradition, despite how

antiquated and barbaric the practice may seem.  Shirley Jackson's portrayal of

evil in this ordinary, friendly atmosphere suggests that people are not always as

they seem. She implies there may be underlying evil behind a smile or kind gesture.

“The Lottery" shows the reader the weakness that can hide in humans. This little

village has performed this lottery for so many years, continues on with the

...