The Lottery an Analysis

“The Lottery”: An analysis

“The Lottery” is a story which has a twist in it. As you read the story you are not really sure what exactly the Lottery is. It is very vague and the term is used loosely. It is somewhat misleading you to think that the Lottery is something good. The author uses Tess to give foreshadowing. By Tess’s behavior and words you know that she is nervous. Tess is the protagonist in this story. The author leaves us believing that Tess gets killed by the townspeople. The Lottery is a tradition in their town and has been for many years; ever since it was first made. The people know what has to go on and they do it once a year. Mostly everyone is for it or at least okay with it. That is until the Hutchinson’s got the slip of paper with the dot on it. Tess immediately started freaking out; knowing what was about to happen to her or one of her family members.

This is where Tess has a change of heart. In many stories the protagonist has a change of heart for the better. They usually have some sort of an epiphany where they suddenly realize their actions and fix them. In this case Tess is almost the opposite. She is okay with the drawing of the Lottery then says how unfair it is when her family is at stake. She does not do this calmly either. Tess let everyone know what she is thinking and feeling. People want to say things but can’t for it is tradition. Jackson even gives Tess’s children a few pebbles to throw at her to show how barbaric our nature can be.

Jackson somewhat prepares the reader for this by foreshadowing. She drops hints by stressing on how traditional it is; also how Mr. Summers takes it so seriously. People talk of how they are getting rid of it in other towns. People have hesitation before most of their actions in this story. Jackson uses details to describe the box in which you draw out of. It was black but by now it is worn down fading with splinters in it. There is much preparing done before the Lottery can even take place. Mr. Summer’s makes up lists and when the day comes they make sure that no one is left out.

The whole Lottery was a repercussion for Tess. She tried a nothing for a re draw of some sort. This obviously had a huge impact on her life and the lives of others. Her husband is now a widow and her children do not have a mother.