From the beginning as the children pile onto the boulder-like rocks, something is amiss. The short story by Shirley Jackson is disturbing and proof that hiddeninside every human, no matter how virtuous we may seem, lives a bloodthirsty killer.
The story opens with a beautiful blue sky where “flowers are blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” (222)A wonderful summer vacation begins as people gather in the square. The children had assembled first. “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones.” (223)There is little thought behind these actions. It is just another day in the town.
Soon the men begin to gather and talk amongst themselves, and the women encircle them. They all treat this as just another social occasion, “The lottery was conducted-as were the square dances, the teenage club, the Halloween program-by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.”(223) Funny they called the lottery a civic activity, as if it were a normal government function
These people are average people. They live in a small town community where they know each other by their first names. Their children grew up together and they all socialize. However, their assemblage today is to function as a gang of murderers.
The occasion is the lottery. This is not a normal event we may imagine, where a person is chosen to win a prize. This lottery leads to human slaughter. The townspeople believe that if they sacrifice one of their own that their crops will grow. If they do not follow this tradition, that has lived on as long as the oldest of them, Old Man Warner, can remember, then their crops will fail and a horrible fate may befall the town.
Old Man Warner is the ringleader. With his guidance, the townspeople continue their homicidal rampage year after year. Through this ‘trial’ by raffle, a hapless participant chooses their fate from an ominous black box. Most people do not even question the ritual, but when a few defiant individuals dare to challenge the horrendous tradition they silenced by the melancholy Old Man Warner. Mr. Adams says, “Some places have already quit lotteries.” Old Man Warner replies,” Nothing but trouble in that, pack of crazy fools.”(226)To him it was just another day. After all, he has been through seventy-seven of these.
For the others, in the beginning it almost seems like a routine event like a carnival passing through. They interrupt their afternoon chores to participate, and appear to make light of the occasion. Tessie is one of the townsfolk, no different from any other. She is at home doing the dishes, taking care of her family, when this mild interruption occurs. She even encourages her husband to step forward when his name is called. Fingers shuffle the papers relentlessly as the crowd waits, in anticipation of the final name.
When the drawing is complete, a tense silence once again settled over the assembly.” For a minute no one moved.” You can almost see their eager, hungry faces as they scan the crowd for the “winner.” “When the slips of paper are opened a sigh of relief is shared among the fortunate, and a ripple begins to spread through the gathering.” Who is it?” Who’s got it?” “Is it the Dunbars.” Is it the Watsons?” “Then the voices begin to say, “Its Hutchinson. It’s Bill”, Bill Hutchinson’s got it.” (227)
Tessie’s response struck home when terror-stricken she screams, “You didn’t give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair.”(227) She offers her married daughters family to the slaughter, but is told this cannot be done. Through this action, she proves her own murderous intent. Her protests go unheard as the assassins become apathetic. They are thirsty to see their friend’s blood spill.
When Tessie holds the black dot in her hand, it is as if none of the townspeople ever knew her. She is no longer human to the crowd, but a necessary sacrifice for their survival, and an unwilling pawn in their barbarous ritual.
They descend on her like wild beasts. “Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large that she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar, “Come on,” she said.” Hurry up.” She in a hurry to ensure she gets her chance to pummel her neighbor as mercilessly as she possibly can. The glee she feels is palpable. The children are already prepared with their own cache of stones, and make sure that Tessie’s own son participates in the brutal slaying. Old Man Warner, the master butcher was saying, “Come on, come on, everyone.” It is obvious he is drooling for the moment he could deliver the final deathblow.
Tessie cries out to them, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right.” (229) No one listens. Their vision becomes clouded by the bloodlust in their eyes and their ears are deaf to her pleas of mercy. They are normal people, living average lives who become killers out of what they feel is necessity. However, they seem to enjoy the brutal deed. They appear innocuous yet they hunger for blood. It could be anyone of us. It could be you.
