Transcript 20. The Lottery.pptx

The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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The author
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Born in San Francisco in 1916
Jackson intended, as “a sensitive and faithful anatomy
of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of
the concentration camp and the Bomb”, to mirror
humanity’s Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even
have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her
work, as evidenced by Hyman’s statement that she
“was always proud that the Union of South
Africa banned ‘The Lottery,’ and she felt that they at
least understood the story”.
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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The author
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“Explaining just what I had hoped the story to say
is very difficult. I suppose, I hoped, by setting a
particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in
my own village to shock the story's readers with a
graphic dramatization of the pointless violence
and general inhumanity in their own lives.”
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Background
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First published in the June 26, 1948, issue of The New
Yorker. Written the same month it was published, it is
ranked today as “one of the most famous short stories
in the history of American literature”. It has been
described as “a chilling tale of conformity gone mad.”
The story was banned in the Union of South Africa.
Since then, it has been accepted as a classic
American short story, subject to critical interpretations
and media adaptations.
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Setting
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It takes place on the morning of June 27th, a sunny
and pleasant summer day, in the village square of a
town of about three hundred people. The setting is
described as tranquil and peaceful, with children
playing and adults talking about everyday concerns.
This seemingly normal and happy setting contrasts
greatly with the brutal reality of the lottery. Few clues
are given to a specific time and place in the story, a
technique used to emphasize the fact that such
brutality can take place in any time or in any place.
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Major Characters
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Bobby Martin: Boy who loads his pockets with
stones that he will use after townspeople
draw lottery numbers. He also helps build a pile of
stones
Baxter Martin: Older brother of Bobby Martin
Harry Jones: Boy who joins Bobby Martin in
building the pile of stones
Dickie Delacroix: Boy who joins Bobby Martin
and Harry Jones in building the pile of stones
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Major Characters
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Mr. Martin: Bobby Martin's father. He operates
a grocery store
Mrs. Martin: Wife of Mr. Martin
Joe Summers: Coal dealer who conducts the
lottery. He has no children
Mr. Summers's Wife: Shrewish woman
Mr. Graves: Postmaster. He assists Mr.
Summers
Mrs. Graves: Wife of the postmaster
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Major Characters
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Old Man Warner: Oldest man in town
Tessie Hutchinson: Woman who arrives late for
the lottery
Bill Hutchinson: Husband of Mrs. Hutchinson
Bill Jr., Nancy, Little Dave: Children of Mr. and
Mrs. Hutchinson
School Friends of Nancy Hutchinson
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Themes
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The reluctance of people to reject outdated traditions,
ideas, rules, laws, and practices
Society wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear the
sins of the community
The wickedness of ordinary people can be just as
horrifying as the heinous crime of a serial killer or a
sadistic head of state
The unexamined life is not worth living
Following the crowd can have disastrous
consequences
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Symbols
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The lottery: Barbaric tradition or practice; any
foolhardy tradition that a community refuses to
give up; the risks of daily living
The black box: Evil or death, suggested by the
color of the box; outdated tradition
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Symbols
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Boys gathering stones and pebbles:
Indoctrination or brainwashing that is passed on
from one generation to the next
Old Man Warner: Anyone who warns others not
to change; hidebound traditionalist; Luddite;
obstructionist
Mr. Summers: The appearance of normalcy and
cheerfulness hiding evil and corruption
Bill and Davy Hutchinson: Betrayers
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Irony
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The word lottery suggests that the villagers are going
to draw for a prize.
The sunny day suggests that a happy event is about
to take place.
When Old Man Warner hears that the north village is
considering ending the lottery, he says, “Next thing
you know, they’ll be wanting to go back to living in
caves.” (The lottery is as savage and barbaric a ritual
as any practiced by cave dwellers.)
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Dramatizations
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1951 radio version
1969 film: Larry Yust’s short film, The Lottery (1969),
produced as part of Encyclopædia Britannica’s “Short
Story Showcase” series, was ranked by the Academic
Film Archive “as one of the two bestselling educational
films ever.”
1996 TV film: Anthony Spinner’s feature-length TV
film, The Lottery, which premiered September 29,
1996, on NBC, is a sequel loosely based on the
original Shirley Jackson story.
The Lottery
Shirley Jackson
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Further readings
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Novels
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The Haunting of Hill House (1959)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)
Short stories
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“After You, My Dear Alphonse” (1943)
“Charles” (1948)
“The Witch” (1949)