What is a Lottery?

In a lottery, prizes are awarded through random selection. Prizes are often cash, but can be anything from a kindergarten placement to units in a subsidized housing block or a vaccine for a rapidly spreading virus. There are many types of lottery games, but most require that participants pay a fee to participate. Organizers then either draw names randomly or allow contestants to compete in stages. The first stage in a lottery usually involves pure chance, while later stages can be more skill-based. In some cases, contestants can also buy shares in a lottery, turning the game into a kind of stock exchange.

In her short story “Lottery,” Shirley Jackson depicts a small-town America that is obsessed with the annual lottery. It is June, and the village is abuzz with preparations for this event. The children are gathering stones, and Old Man Warner quotes an ancient proverb: “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.”

While the villagers are happy with the lottery, Mrs. Hutchinson is not. She feels that it is a cruel and oppressive practice, and argues with those who argue that her views are unfounded. The lottery, then, becomes a symbol of the way that small-town life can be unfair and restrictive. The events of this story reveal how people will condone evil behavior when it is embraced by the majority, and that they should have the courage to protest against outdated traditions.