The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson (Analysis & Interpretation)

Nick Courtright is the Executive Editor of Atmosphere Press, an author-friendly publisher, and an acclaimed English professor. Learn more at atmospherepress.com, and nickcourtright.com!

[@m.oriley8260]

Shirley Jackson never offered explanation or analysis of her classic short story. She wrote it and horrified the country.

[@jerekadawnitona4823]

Ll

[@teshahawkins4822]

JESUS LUVS!!! She exposes evils and some of the ways they were played out in her life. She reveals how the enemy has them hidden in plain sight. The reasoning for society’s acceptance is misinterpretations of something seemingly to be ok just because it is accepted!

[@joeykonyha2414]

The Lottery is a masterpiece. Best short story ever, hands down.

[@adamsaoud7191]

indeed even it looks so simple nothing more than stoning but it has a deep philosophy

[@jimmyhayden5292]

Shirley there must be a purpose

[@oneputtsteven]

Yes exposing rural red state paranoia, superstition, clinging to tradition etc.

[@honestprogressivedetroiter5004]

Yes, a lot is missed. The names, of Warner, Tessie and more point to a specific ritual she was alluding to in American history. Shirley Jackson is a hero because after her book, the ritual died out. The ritual was of hanging black people for nothing. They were accused of looking at, speaking to, or outraging a white woman. That means, by even looking at a white woman, they had violated her, and raped her. Rape is a real crime, and certainly those found guilty of rape, should be punished. However, these men were not actually tried in a court. They received no due process of law. Rumor based on a statement was enough to begin the ritual sacrifice by people who proclaimed themselves to be Christians. By using the word, "outraged" they need not describe the crime in any detail.Then, the whole community would crowd around a tree, burn the man, while he hung there. Cut off his body parts. Sometimes barbecue the body parts and eat them, other times pickle them, or keep them as souvenirs much like we do rabbits foot or deer antlers. These community burnings were popular, and folks would pose for pictures near the dead body. All of the victims were not black men, but only a fraction were anything else. The hanging picnics were usually after church. An abstract was written which states that communities that had all white churches, and all black churches were more likely to participate in human sacrifice via lynching than communities with mixed churches. In fact, these gatherings were called picnics. The word 'picnic' was coined at the beginning of the triangle trade, but used most frequently during the 19th century, when lynchings were also most popular. An after church get together, usually on Sundays, but pic-nics were held on many other holiday, and important agricultural days too. Shirley Jackson learned about these racist and agri-religious gatherings. She spent time with other people who hated this racism, like award-winning author Ralph Ellison who wrote Invisible Man. They worked on these projects together to defeat racism. The Lottery helped to end the pic-nics, which some people believe means pick-a-"n". In 1870 Littré dictioniary refers to an English origin from the words "pick" (to seize) and "nick" to be a small morsel of food. The French Nique means "thing of no value". Either way, Jackson found a way to create a story which focused on the madness of innocent human beings being "picked" and killed openly by a mob of townspeople. The word "pick" is used many times in the story. It is amazing that so many have analyzed this story and not made the connection between Ellison and Jackson and others protesting racism in America. So, I expect it to be discredited. However, any minority who fears the inhumanity and terror created by the human sacrifice ritual of hunting humans in the U.S (and eating them), immediately knows what this about, and knows that it exists, even without knowing that Ellison and other writers were involved. Recently, I was watching a TV show, and two normal looking people were on a blind date. It amazed me when they began discussing their common interest in eating people. I wondered where they found people to eat. I suppose that these rituals must still continue in secret. Jackson left out dismemberment and cannibalism, and posing with dead bodies, that was so often, and gruesomely carried out by upstanding white citizens in reality, in the 18th and 19th century. A google search will show many images of post cards and photos taken to celebrate the picnics. To this day, African Americans do have family barbecues, but rarely do they call them 'picnics' for the reasons I described. A few years after her book, in about 1952, it was reported for the first time, there had been no lynchings in an entire year. After reading so many reviews, I wondered whether or not to remind Americans of lynching. After all, then I could be targeted and harassed by people who want to continue this old mindset. If you can read the story, without realizing a form of human sacrifice, dismemberment, torture, and cannibalism actually took place in a grand scale in our country, then you are lucky to be privileged to not have that to worry about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYvUlJ1tYqudqa8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4irdYuZnbyKa5Y

[@Forceprincess]

Of course there is a purpose, but don't call me Shirley. :)

[@mannixmarti5859]

Dude! Thnx that was a Great analysis I originally watched the lottery during my sophomore year of high school in 1977. Although I got the gist of it during my first viewing you cleared up a lot of issues that I had in understanding the lottery and it's entirety. I also really like your enthusiasm. I actually created an account here just so I could comment on your video. I would also like to mention I have not viewed the lottery since 1977. It made such an impact on me as a sophomore I never forgot it and just now went back to rewatch it after so many years. Thanks again for clearing many things up for an old man. Excellent work on your behalf !

[@TiffyVella1]

Thankyou so much for this. Your insight is wonderful and adds a lot to the enjoyment of Jackson's story. I have come in late but good literature is timeless, so here we are. Just adding a small comment that it is really hard to read any mention of the dear Jeremy Bentham without hearing a sprightly little voice singing "Bentham's head!", and for that we have to thank Caitlyn Doughty, our Good Mortician.

[@starcrafter13terran]

Tess, the name is diminutive of Theresa, meaning "To harvest"

[@nightcorecreations2079]

This video really helped me understand the goal of the author and the context within this book. Thanks!

[@adamsaoud7191]

thank u so much it was so useful explanation and i loved this short story because even it looks so simple but it has so deep philosophy

[@itsshahd2695]

What a thoughtful and amazing interpretation, thanks a lot!

[@manabouttown6651]

Great analysis!

[@shakespearaamina9117]

Fascinating interpretation, thank you!

[@magicknight13]

Such great content!! Thank you so much. You're a great teacher

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Very good analysis.

[@thespeez]

I feel one reason why Jackson used the name 'Delacroix' was because she picked up the largest rock possible, thereby giving her character a similar analogy to Jesus as he was picking up his cross to the mount.

[@DorianPaige00]

Do you know who Anne Hutchinson was? She also had a husband named Bill Hutchinson who was a magistrate. She took on the Puritan clergy in Massachusetts and was thus tried, convicted, and then banished from the colony. She believed that one's outward behavior or works is not necessarily tied to the state of someone's soul. She believed in empowering women but she too stated that a man's works usually correlates directly with how women are treated and regarded. She ended up having a miscarriage at an advanced age and the church furthermore said it was God's judgment and punishment for her sins and difference of philosophy. If you don't know the historical figures referenced then you won't see the true genius of a literary work.

[@TiffyVella1]

oh wow thankyou for this insight. Im new to the work of Shirley Jackson and its myriad meanings (am not American so dont know all the cultural references) Am loving catching up with her writings and learning all the contexts.

[@michaelg3074]

Good analysis.

[@markmaster5774]

Learned so much more ... 😊

[@TheRedCyndaquil]

did not pick up on the name, very cool idea read the story two days ago and there's so much in so few pages thanks from the future

[@blackmetalmagick1]

Brilliant thanks

[@belieberdirectiner]

i have a homework about this and you really helped.. but i have 2 questions... how has Shirley Jackson built the story? and what does the story imply about the family loyalties?

[@tomryugo5742]

The written story doesn't have a timeline. The movie is contemporary America of 1969. There's no such indication in the story though. It could have been today or 200 years ago.

[@georgebailey9238]

The idea of human sacrifice as a guarantor of fertility, following the cycles of the harvest, is an ancient one, and it's no accident that the principal Christian festival days fall upon the same days as those of the pagans. Christ is the scapegoat, the lamb of God, chosen to redeem mankind. These concepts are so ubiquitous and omnipresent in Western culture that we tend to forget how primal and violent they are, not to mention the horrors that have been perpetrated in the name of religion and continue to this day. Jackson's story has this uncanny quality because it's like wait, haven't we heard this story before? Also, the story was published in 1948, when the horrors of the Holocaust and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were very fresh and very real.

[@ranasaqibhassan4603]

very helpful ideas thanks

[@jnucleo]

Very good analysis, biblical undertones for sure. The real question in my mind, what were those high school teachers at the time trying to infuse into their students?

[@morrocancuisine4420]

Thanks

[@a5othercules431]

guys' Anybody here know what is the single effect of "the lottery"? thanks at all.

[@sthephaniegallardo1657]

Thank you so much you help me a lot :) !!!

[@KaiserChiefsPocketbombs]

+STHEPHANIE GALLARDO o0o0o baby you fiiiine~ if i wasnt such a cool cat i might consider having more dialog with you. But, unfortunately I'm another species. How ever I'm very cuddly so if you like i can sit in your lap while you pet me, arch villain status.

[@samanthazoedhillon4163]

Would love it if you had expanded into Girard's theory of mimetic desire/rivalry/violence, pagan elements, or, perhaps, Marxist interpretations. It's always nice to get a bit deeper into these interpretations, though I am happy that you brought feminist theory in a bit at the end!

[@atmospherepress]

Ah, maybe next time! How do you think Marxism plays into the story?

[@samanthazoedhillon4163]

@@atmospherepress Well, I don't totally agree with the analysis, but I think it is interesting to consider! I think it was Peter Kosenko who presented this analysis... He basically argued that the story can be examined through a Marxist lens because of capitalist undertones of the lottery system established, and he argued that the 'black dot' on the papers represents the coal from Mr. Summer's factory. He argues that the colour black represents some type of "evilness" associated with capitalist greed, and he associates this with the power that Mr. Summers has in both his professional role as a capitalist boss and in his role leading the ritual each year. It's not the best approach but it is certainly an interesting one!

[@atmospherepress]

Hmm...yeah, I do see that analysis as being a bit of a stretch. One thing about scholars is that if they have a particular lens they like to use, it becomes a hammer and everything they see is a nail. I do think it's interesting to think of the plight of Tess as analagous to the individual who "goes along" with an oppressive system (i.e. capitalism) until the very moment that system fails him/her ("it's unfair!"). What do you think? I do love how this story is simple enough that it really opens itself up to a variety of lenses!

[@MrDjmirk]

I think there is something in that everyone wants to get back to “work.”

[@magnoliagarcia5972]

what does the black box symbolize?

[@a5othercules431]

it is painted black for death,stained (probably with blood) , and worn-out.

[@bodhiduijvekam]

A black box symbolizes a casket.

[@michaeldonnelly1662]

The black box represents both the tradition of the lottery and the illogic of the villagers’ loyalty to it. The black box is nearly falling apart, hardly even black anymore after years of use and storage, but the villagers are unwilling to replace it. The lottery is filled with similar relics from the past that have supposedly been passed down from earlier days, such as the creation of family lists and use of stones. These are part of the tradition, from which no one wants to deviate-the lottery must take place in just this way because this is how it’s always been done. However, other lottery traditions have been changed or forgotten. The villagers use slips of paper instead of wood chips, for example. There is no reason why the villagers should be loyal to the black box yet disloyal to other relics and traditions, just as there is no logical reason why the villagers should continue holding the lottery at all.

[@chincelecelebrity2855]

imagine that you are visiting a friend in the town in the story the lottery. you are visiting on the day of the lottery drawing. in a paragraph of at least 150 words, describe what you see, think, feel, hear throughout the day from the morning(when you first learn that there will be a lottery) until the evening(hours after you learned how the lotterey ended)

[@geoffreynatanael8594]

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[@geoffreynatanael8594]

сработало!

[@geoffreynatanael8594]

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[@khanlakhno2757]

Пхах, лол, мы тут вообще-то литературу обсуждаем, а ты со своим спамом лезешь.

[@lawcane]

I thought that Tessie wasn't a very sympathetic character because she was a willing participant until her husband pulled the marked paper. She wouldn't have called it unfair if Dunbar or Graves had pulled it. With my students I compared it to the war on drugs, where middle America supported min-man sentences and harsh drug laws, until the opiod crisis hit and then all of sudden these people who had wanted this harsh, draconian drug laws now were saying these laws were unfair because it was their family members being sent to prison.

[@katleen1022]

Can you please tell me who was the man who got pick to get stoned? was it Tessie's husband?

[@angry3195]

No, Tessie got stoned. This is one of those stories where you have to read it twice. The rules are that the family member that gets chosen will have all of the members of their family put papers in the box. Then the black dot is chosen again. For example, say John Doe has 5 people in his family. The first time around, John Doe gets the black dot. Then all 5 of John Doe's family members put pieces of paper in the box (four blank, one dotted). The family member that chooses the black dot gets stoned.

[@TiffyVella1]

@@angry3195 This system really would motivate people to have a ton of children, and doom those who had none. Didn't the Hutchinson family try to include a married daughter to better the odds, but they were told that married daughters go to their husband's family instead?

[@angry3195]

@@TiffyVella1 yeah this makes a lot of sense. And wow! My reply is so old! I think I was in 8th grade when I sent that, and now I'm about to graduate

[@TiffyVella1]

@@angry3195 Hah I know! Bet that was a trip back in time for you, when some wally like me discovers an old thing and starts talking out of the past. :) Best of luck with your studies!

[@michellethomas7140]

I saw this back in the early 80s, in English Jr. High. Now when I've seen it through adult eyes, it is quite a commentary of today. The thinking of Democrats, Liberals, and various groups. They would think nothing of picking up a stone and hurling it at anyone who disagrees with them in a form! Can't wait to see the stones that come my way. I'm not off!

[@kevincorcoran6493]

You can add Republican and MAGA folks to your list

[@antiquesrestoration3874]

LOL...this applies to the right, not the left. Even the interpreter mentioned Nazis, who the maga crowd embrace.

[@TiffyVella1]

This is a fabulous and historically controversial short story, but I don't see what it has to do with your politics regarding democrats and liberals, or even your two party system, or even of any particular political systems, especially the ones you called out. The Lottery is a political system in a way, but not one that is democratically voted for. It is a system that is certainly Conservative, in that it is the status quo, it takes ultimate control and it disallows questioning. It is also inherently Conservative because it encourages large family-centred households as a method for parents to increase their own chances of survival, and it gruesomely punishes other styles of household. Woe betide the unmarried adult, the same-sex couple, the seasonal worker, the co-tenants, the infertile couple, the empty-nesters, the students, the traveler; all of these people are statistically doomed under this system. It is a system designed to favour the large family group under a single head-of-the-household with a pile of dependants, ie, the Conservative ideal. You are not a martyr, and nobody has lobbed a single stone your way in two years. I am not lobbing any stones, and I have no pony in your race.

[@01123heavenlybe]

Star link

[@bearipol4045]

what is the main idea? thanks

[@tarstarkusz]

Tradition is bad and America is bad. The Lottery was written by an American hating leftist. In modern terms, it's also serves as anti-white propaganda.

[@randomuser1105]

tarstarkusz Are you in the klan?

[@tarstarkusz]

OK, this was two separate replies. It is used as anti-white propaganda today. If you can reserve your assumptions, I'll give you an explanation.

[@k-liz6290]

most likely, lord help him!

[@PungiFungi]

The practices of male circumcision and female genital mutilation came into my mind. Both are essentially the same thing but of course, Americans believe that WE are right when we do it. And some people to this day continued to rationalize and justify both despite all of the evidence to the contrary. It is tradition, usually hidden behind a lie about medical benefits.

[@starcrafter13terran]

60 years ago?

[@Iheartdgd]

The movie was made in 1969, the story was written in 1948.

[@MaccyjoeDraws]

I am not shcoked tbh. People are people. Even dough it's fiction - it's bound to happen(and it has happend in RL) sooner or later in some other fashion or version or whatever.

[@crizmallala9129]

But why did the author entitled the fiction as "The Lottery" pls help me i jeed to pass it tomorroe

[@tirlochansingh6007]

sorry im late but duh its cuz in the actual lottery they win a prize and in the lottery, the prize is being a sacrifice

[@chaymaebencharki8223]

SOMEBODY PLZ TO WRITE WHAT HE SAYS I CAN'T HEARD

[@JesusSavesSinners]

The reaction to this story especially when it first came out to me shows the complete lack of intelligence people have. Seriously you were shocked by the ending. I read this in class when I was 11 (as many teachers do we were told to read the story in class so afterwards we could talk about it. We did this often. ) and I knew that the winner (loser) would be stoned it was easy to realize. The boys gathering and making piles of rocks was a big clue plus the fact people were very afraid. No one wanted to win this lottery. They talked about other towns ending it, as a good thing to do. It was pretty clear Tessie Hutchinson was very likely to be stoned or her youngest son. I was not shocked by the ending Shirley Jackson telegraphed the ending. I do not think Shirley Jackson expected people to be shocked at the ending. I think she wanted to have people wake up and stop being lemmings. To see that the people in this story kept the lottery going even when they knew it was wrong. No one was able to stand up against the peer pressure. I think her message was do not blindly follow anyone and even if you are the only one than still make a stand against evil.

[@HeavyK.]

There's always room for improvement. But, there's a lot more room to ruin everything.

[@teshahawkins4822]

JESUS LUVS!!! Wow that is a quote for Humanity! Thank you! BE BLESSED!!!

[@rosemarieproulx4058]

I was forced to watch this in school as a young girl. This story was horrific and has had a very bad impact on me. Imagine having to watch this when you were under 16.

[@Krisna_K]

I was about 14 and in middle school! Older than some who were forced to watch it in elementary school which I think is way too young!

[@josephcormier7046]

stoning happened in the bible. what's the big deal. it's not a new concept.

[@jessicahebin633]

That is exactly the point. The time period contributes to the shock factor. It shows many potential themes: devolution, corruption and brainwash, mob mentality, etc. It also conveys the idea that it isn't always a good idea to uphold some traditions.

[@krys889]

the fact that most christians dont read the bible, most of them probably dont know about sodom and gomorrah

[@TiffyVella1]

The Bible is full of immoral and brutal codified behaviour and it has been used to justify tradition. The Lottery questions the good of tradition.

[@patriciaathome6094]

horrible story