The Lottery Short Story Review by Difan Li

 The Lottery Short Story Review by Difan Li

The Lottery is a short story written by Shirley Jackson, published in 1948. It describes a town that holds an annual tradition called “the lottery.” At first, it seems an excitable event, with young children collecting rocks and members of families gathering together. It is only till the end of the story that the truth of the lottery is revealed. It is a lottery of death, and the chosen person is executed by stoning. This story received a controversial response but is able to bring to light many impact aspects of society that are difficult to face. It explores the extent of human persistence and the ability to turn a blind eye to horror and cruelty. Though the town is both civilized and modern to the time period, the lottery, a game of death and inhumanity, continues to remain a yearly tradition. It is a symbol of human savagery that continues to exist even in the most civilized. This story both warns against the dangers of following tradition unquestioningly and staying silent in the face of terrible events even when they may not affect you. I found the story to be very shaking and eye-opening and greatly admire the author for her ability to spread such a message through the span of only a few pages.