The Lottery by Shirley Jackson | Summary & Analysis

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Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth analysis of the plot, characters, symbols, and themes of Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery.
Download the free study guide and infographic for The Lottery here:
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With deceptive simplicity, Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery slowly builds from an apparently banal scenario to one that illustrates the horrors that result from mindless groupthink.
The residents of a bucolic American country town gather for a ritual in which one of their number will be selected for symbolic slaughter.
As they exchange pleasantries and mundane observations, clues start to creep in as to the purpose of this sinister congregation.
Set during midsummer, a time of pagan significance with associations of both celebration and sacrifice, references to the stones that will be used to eliminate the unlucky scapegoat start to pile up along with casual references to past lotteries.
This is made all the more menacing by the participants' unthinking adherence to the barbaric tradition: occasional murder is as prosaic as Fourth of July fireworks to these people.
American writer Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery was first published in 1948. Jackson's eerie stories and novels explore abnormal psychology and domestic horror. The Lottery established her as a writer of Gothic tales and unsettling novels.
The short horror story includes many powerful symbols such as stones symbolizing an ancient and primal force, the black box representing a solemn tradition to which the town clings, and households symbolizing family units that determine the fates in the lottery. Important themes include conformity, tradition and ritual, and the banality of evil.
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[@emilyanderson6031]

This dude is saving my butt during my Quarantine Classes. Thanks!

[@momololo4757]

💯

[@lindsey9094]

samee

[@zoricgaming8375]

sameeeeeeee

[@ashtongarn4262]

Ik

[@emilyanderson6031]

🙌

[@sbslpn]

I love how enthusiastically you explain everything and it’s so simple. I wish my teachers were like that. They be boring my out and try to make the story appear more complicated than it is

[@yeshasgowrishetty7601]

tru that

[@AlharithBa-Azeb]

Omg fr

[@lilya9644]

Course hero: *exists* Students: “I’m about to start this mans whole career.”

[@silasfrisenette9226]

A really interesting aspect of the story is how Tessie is actually okay with the tradition until it potentially hurts herself (not even just her family; she attempts to draw in her daughter and son-in-law to minimize her own risk). Even though Tessie may be the "progressive"/protagonist in the story, she isn't really. She isn't against the lottery, which is also seen by her arguments; the issue wasn't with the lottery with itself, but with how it was conducted ("he didn't get time to pick the paper of his choice", not "maybe we shouldn't kill anyone"). This is truly a masterpiece :)

[@jupiterskiss3473]

It truly is.

[@kevingepulle4371]

woah. agreed!

[@natalieanimal4063]

I'm glad you pointed this out. I did see this bit in some interpretations, that state Tessie would've been just fine being one of the attackers, and I was surprised others didn't interpret it this way. I feel not doing so would mean omitting an important aspect Jackson wanted to show. To continue to your comment, I find it brilliant that, while obviously everyone is badly corrupted by the tradition, the characters are never black-and-white; there are lots of seemingly contradictory things about them all- times when they seem sorry about what would happen, times when they seem to just want to be violent, when they appear confused as to what the point is, there's a complex view of everyone when we start thinking of what they said and did. My comment is already too long, so I won't go into examples now.

[@silasfrisenette9226]

@@natalieanimal4063 I definitely agree. Lots of nuance :)

[@lawcane]

Protagonist doesn't mean hero. She is still the protagonist, even if she isn't someone admirable.

[@davidkonevky7372]

It's not the act of murdering the woman itself that's creepy, but how cassually they treat it

[@scotnick59]

Of course: that was Jackson's way of shocking 1948 readers.

[@jenniferschillig3768]

And the fact that Mrs. Delacroix, who'd been gossiping with Tessie a moment before, picked up the biggest stone to crush her friend's skull. And the fact that though everyone was clearly relieved that little David (probably no more than five) didn't get the black spot...they'd still have thought nothing of killing him if he HAD been the one. And that they gave him a few small stones to throw at his mother during the ritual murder.

[@silasfrisenette9226]

Old Man Warner also states "Used to be a saying about ‘Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.’ " which clearly shows that this is no longer a core belief or motivation for the lottery. It USED to be a part of why they did it, but this seems to have been lost. He then adds "There’s always been a lottery" as if this has now become the main reason for the lottery; it's always been there, so why change it.

[@gothicprincess9670]

It's not even like I had to watch this exact video, this guy just made it seem so interesting!

[@silasfrisenette9226]

Assuming that the stones represent the (constant/never-changing) traditions, the "tradition" is literally passed down when little Davey is handed the stones to throw at his own mother.

[@DrawciaGleam02]

This story is also a good way to explain why certain traditions need to end, in my opinion.

[@silasfrisenette9226]

@@DrawciaGleam02 definitely. The core message seems to be "don't do it just because it's always been like that". Don't trust customs blindly

[@virtual-realityg4mer196]

Omg you do such a good job in summarizing stories and chapters, I hope you can do the book of the “Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca skloot

[@Kate-yo8et]

thank youu for the precise explanation. never thought that a simple short story could mean a lot and shows very great moral lessons. ♡♡

[@kristy_krab_pizza]

This man is a true hero. I literally hate English so much but he helps me do good in it. Thank you course hero!!!

[@1000crazypeople]

This helped me understand the story sooooooo much better, thank you! It's ridiculous that I have to take an English 161 class for my journeymens card for tool and die.

[@jamesvolstad6008]

Great video. I am taking an Intro to Humanities class at my local Community College. This video helps me with an essay that I am writing about The Lottery. Worlds Oldest (68) College Student.

[@abriareyes784]

Good luck!

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Shirley Jackson and her family had moved to Vermont a few years before she wrote this. At the time, Bennington, Vermont, was a rather hidebound and insular town overly concerned with tradition and "the way things had always been". Shirley grew to hate the idea of blindly clinging to tradition without examining whether the reasons behind said traditions were relevant anymore, and followed that idea to its extreme conclusion: if no one had ever thought to question tradition or re-evaluate the reasons behind "the way things had always been", then we'd still be performing human sacrifices for a good fall harvest.

[@Tiedlux]

Thank you very much after reading and analyzing my own analysis, watching your video boosted my knowledge more onto this assignment i am doing.

[@bulug]

This is the best analysis video I’ve ever seen

[@charlyluvecce8664]

Thank you for this video, really clear and interesting!

[@rakinkhan1206]

Simple and Effective. Amazing explanation. Thanks

[@benediktkoster2964]

Your videos are so good and helpful!

[@zecra4432]

Thank you for such exceptional summary and analysis

[@koni.K]

I forgot to read the book and I have to do an essay tomorrow. Thank you so much!

[@naomib7749]

Thank you so much this helped A LOT!

[@Flzflz34]

Thank you, you saved my life from ENG102 class :D

[@sl3724]

Thank you Mr. Jaffe!

[@zsalt2018]

So basically the household is chosen, and whoever in that household has the slip with the black mark on it gets sacrificed?

[@4NNEL15]

Yep! You got it!

[@frogmin2439]

this analysis helped a lot!

[@Flowerangl]

"Conformity kills." Indeed.

[@joudichouhoud3953]

thank you so much! helped me a lot.

[@AMP3083official]

Thanks for the helpful analysis!

[@haileyramzan2070]

this helped so much!!!! thank you!

[@henrywallace3563]

A brilliant and informative video. Thank you!

[@norkagonzalez3408]

This is just superb, I have been researching "freeware lottery wheeling software" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Zenulian Lottify Bonkers - (just google it ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my cousin got amazing success with it.

[@1Love254]

This is life saving!!

[@cyrek9529]

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he helped me ace my assignment

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Thank you， it's an awesome source

[@jakuuson]

what is the name of the piece being played at 6:40?

[@jaksbekalskkz1961]

this is sooooo helpful, thxxx

[@beamanlangit6869]

Thank you for this!

[@alxzito]

so what is the theme?

[@dzorua151]

Heard about this story in Jackbox Party Pack trivia night 2 and it was too interesting to not hear the story.

[@mckaylamarille8630]

Do you remember the trivia question? I'm curious.

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

6:21 I think you mean "sub-consciously" avoiding it. If she were "un-consciously" avoiding it, she would be asleep throughout it.

[@shirleyfrank-jonas1069]

Also, when he says the black box is "comprised of pieces of the original box," he means "composed."

[@discosuperfly3652]

@@shirleyfrank-jonas1069 Comprised is a synonym for composed, meaning to include or contain.

[@alyssaflores8267]

dude literally thank you so much

[@asmaahassan5793]

Why did I cry to this?

[@Yaya-nm4rq]

Maybe if they showed videos like this in class ppl would pass

[@habibayasser5222]

honestly!!

[@ronaldgordon6067]

Maybe if you actually read the story and thought about it, you might learn something.

[@Yaya-nm4rq]

@@ronaldgordon6067 I did read the story, not my fault kids don’t understand the story like adults do

[@eric-jt4ij]

@@Yaya-nm4rq its indeed your fault

[@nothingnone4083]

@@eric-jt4ij that still depends although

[@lizgarcia9807]

This is great analysis!

[@brendagarcia8141]

Excellent! I wonder if you can equate commonality with mob mentality, are they the same? I think there is a slight difference, but would love to discuss this.

[@jupiterskiss3473]

I would say different. Commonalities are often traits or behaviors unique to an individual or group. However, when compared with another individual or group, similarities may arise, but it's more coincidental than influential. A mob mentality is a form of groupthink that occurs via influence. It takes individuality away from the individual, leading to conformity. It also demonstrates the power of persuasion.

[@neroclaudiuscaesaraugustuse]

Got an assessment for this tmr wish me luck 😂

[@abgh7853]

I hate reading for my classes 💀 thank you💜

[@mariavlachodimou3771]

What is the meaning of the lottery? The Hutchinsons were picked up so why did the woman complain?

[@T.U.]

Thank you so much for your efforts and precious analysis. However, I guess you did not notice that Mr. Summers was wearing a clean white shirt and blue jeans :).

[@laffytiffy4730]

What do you think that means in the story? Honesty just very curious.

[@ddami.e]

Can someone pls tell me the point of view in this story?? :D

[@MS24_]

Thank you!

[@kzoneclips]

interesting. 😊who owns the copyright?

[@milesmosley6078]

This guy got a spot in heaven!!!!😂 thanks man🙏🙏

[@janl6967]

Thank you very much

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

I always felt the story to be a comment upon religion, and the outcome of blind faith. The three-legged stool could also refer to the holy trinity of the christian faith.

[@heidifedor]

Tessie only thought it was unfair because she was chosen. She is also quick to throw her married daughter under the bus.

[@harshkanani6605]

Thank you so much dude

[@diegoachon8839]

The real og

[@heidifedor]

Isn’t the stoning symbolic of the story of Jesus saying, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

[@WhiteChocolate444]

Thank you

[@eclipso2308]

Why did the kill Tessie though? I just don’t get that part

[@eclipso2308]

@HUNTER PANOCH okay thanks :>

[@lilly_4519]

what did they say

[@r0dwave268]

What would be the theme of this 😭 I’m doing a commonlit assessment

[@rand0mn3sss48]

tradition isn't always right I guess

[@riverrider9030]

conformity, banality of evil and tradition and rituals

[@sportsfaniguess154]

Thanks I didn’t understand what was going on and why people hated this. I still have no idea why this got people angry I find it interesting.

[@rushokhan3178]

Thank you man

[@sean8156]

5:44

[@tsdifferent]

I loveeee this story

[@FLOY1]

Please do Trifles by Susan Glaspell

[@jenniferschillig3768]

The short story version (as opposed to the one-act play) is called A Jury Of Her Peers. But yes, I do agree that they should cover it.

[@natalieanimal4063]

Shirley Jackson's story was published in the paper, and then they were upon her.

[@brkenbitch4162]

Wait, so who won the lottery? I’m so confused 😐

[@myatminthu9394]

Tessie Hutchinson

[@jessivietgirl]

didnt really win it practically like the hunger games where they select ur name and u can die

[@unbrokenconnor9464]

Thankyou

[@rijahaider6926]

great

[@unbrokenconnor9464]

This helped

[@ulrikeschannel1577]

What about when the guy comes to scatter his dad's ashes on his mom's grave . Finds his mom was killed in past lotteries

[@ImperialBeaver7]

4 minutes into the video and I'm shaking

[@treecharko1863]

good luck on your assignments every one...

[@fracekamauraforever2735]

Thank uuuu

[@BLINK-bq7fl]

Can someone please tell me why do they need to execute someone?

[@thesirtoadytoadster]

ikr

[@akumanoko1158]

Tradition of the town that was never questioned by anyone in town

[@nayelijaquez7520]

It's tradition, but it's a fertility rite, too.

[@gingaddict]

this sounds like a twilight zone episode!

[@bobbybrown2291]

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, where a town is turned against themselves.

[@nornnoiz7854]

That's a sad story of my night.

[@Oii0gcoyfyf9]

Anyone from Mrs.McAlisters 8th grade honors english

[@herojosh7110]

why you got to expose your teacher like that

[@sushisuuue]

very gud

[@AFuture-project]

how come we don't get to pay for this too🤔

[@ibtissam1236]

Point of view is limited or omniscient ??

[@anitahudson1570]

I suppose limited.

[@swanne.9]

Is omniscient

[@mike.4763]

Thanks got to cheat on the test

[@eyclo]

so tessie died or what?

[@Yellow8Gacha]

We don’t know that’s the point

[@star4327]

What is irony in the story?????

[@evanfaucet3814]

I hope you got that homework done

[@ericakane210]

Someone want to write my essay for me ?

[@tuanap9725]

were u ably to write the essay

[@Oii0gcoyfyf9]

Ha ha same

[@regulusdownunder]

The hell is this story?!?

[@aboodtuqan4577]

W vid

[@Vincent1808]

OK BUT WHY IS HE SHOUTING AT US?!

[@taylorcolonna457]

First, I just heard about this movie, this video breakdown is incredible. And The Lottery sounds exactly so much like the cancle culture of today. This is so.much better the Cliff Notes! 🇺🇸☮❤😊☯️🇺🇸 #ThinkForYourself

[@jupiterskiss3473]

Yes!!!

[@FrNSICs]

it’s more about the scapegoating of people for the sake of upholding dated and cruel traditions. cheers!

[@laguerresarah3740]

Read the pdf was so boring

[@fraser281]

This is how you speak out against religion in America in 1948

[@claudiaflores6809]

Gotta say I was bored af in the beginning of the story the tragic turn of events disgusted me.

[@kingjay5609]

Who won thooo??😂

[@Gabrielle-zi8go]

Honestly no one. You are either a killer or killed

[@joyl3321]

(Tessie) Wow this reminds me of the proud boy who was all right with the J6 insurrection until it affected him (jail time)!

[@TheFoxVR18]

Who else ran out of time on their assignment?

[@rileyjordanmaingque4231]

Me tommorow is the submission of this short story

[@TheFoxVR18]

@@rileyjordanmaingque4231 I had to do an escape game for it and I had 45 mins and I ran out of time because I was so confused lol

[@mkeptrangli]

I read this in high school and was shocked by the twist ending. The race to get the covid vaccine sort of feels like the events of this story. I just hope the outcome of getting everybody vaccinated doesn’t give us a similar outcome.

[@TessaPhotograph]

darkside of humans