Dark Side: The Lottery

Raving Lunatic · Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:55 am

I just finished reading The Lottery. My first thought? OMG!

That was very strange. I had a sneaking suspicion that Mrs. Tessie was going to be the one who was picked. One of those classic cliches about the squeaky wheel. I don't know if I could have taken it if Little Dave was the one who chose it.

My question is what is the purpose of the lottery besides the diminishing of one's population?

I think it symboizes how evil a human being can be. Even little Dave picked up a rock and chucked it at his own mother. I am surprised that no one in the village has complained about the barbaric process. Mrs. Hutchinson tries but is vehmently ignored. Is this a reflection of our society?

We will cast blame on others but not look at what is happening in our own backyards. Are we all capable of murdering our fellow man in the name of that status quo?

Krysondra · Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:39 pm

There are a couple of reasons that the lottery could be going on in this story.

1. It could be an old ritual used to ensure a good crop.

2. It could be the use of the scapegoat. They sacrifice Tessie in place of the sins of all of the townspeople.

Either way, it is clear that the ritual is so old that the town has forgotten its meaning and carries on with it in an empty fashion. I think this is a commentary on the rituals that so many people go through today without thinking about what they mean, for example, the true meanings of holidays (Christian and historic pagan).

Raving Lunatic · Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:53 pm

Good Point. When I read your comment, I remembered a line in the story.


	Quote: 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon'

That is exactly what it could mean. Later.


	Quote: First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery," he added petulantly. "Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody."

I guess they see stoning a way to bring a good harvest.

As you said, just think what we do to ensure good luck. Rabbit's foot. Rubbing your palms on your pockets. Kissing the roof of the car during a yellow light. So on and so forth.

Suzanne · Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:45 pm

The lottery may have started out as a ritual to insure a good fall harvest, but it turned into an act of unessassary cruelty and violence. It also shows how violent women can be. Mrs. Delecrox, Tessie's friend picks up a rock so heavy, she needs to hold it in both hands. I think Tessie would have done the same thing had she not been the one picked.

Did you guys pick up that the Hutchinsons, when asked if there were any other members of their household, Tessie mentions her married daughter? Married daughters drew with the husband's family. Tessie was willing to sacrifice her own daughter to save herself.

There certainly is a religious tone to it. Human sacrifices were preformed to satisfy the gods in many cultures. I thought it interesting how the "young" members of other towns had either stopped it, or were at least considering stopping it. This would suggest that the "young" were not willing to blindly follow. The tripod used for the black box could symbolize the holy trinity.

I loved some of the names. Mr. Warner was my fav, warn-er.

Raving Lunatic · Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:27 am

I didn't catch Mrs. Delecrox with the rock. But I did catch Tessie trying to give up her daughter. Just shows you how far humans will go to save their own skin. Let me rephrase that. Some humans. I would rather have myself be stoned then have my 4 month old daughter be stoned.

I do think that is is very strange that other villages stopped it and the residents of this village complained. They called their neighbors barbaric. Funny how things work.

I don't know if I would bring the tripod thing up. Anything that is three could be labeled as the trinity. Oops! I think my Wiccan is showing.

Suzanne · Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:48 am

Raving Lunatic wrote:


	Quote: I don't know if I would bring the tripod thing up. Anything that is three could be labeled as the trinity.

Sorry, so true. I mentioned it because I found this to be part of the symbolism of the theme. I have used the "tripod" in some of my own writings. Obviously, most chairs have four legs, I have used the tripod to symbolize strength with having less, and having purpose and meaning while missing characterisics like greed, or wealth, or even education. It could be used for making due with less, maybe, making due with less people in the villiage?

This is also very interesting, it's an essay written by a student, however, he points out some good examples.

http://www.essaydepot.com/essayme/1740/index.php

Raving Lunatic · Thu Aug 13, 2009 12:02 pm

That was interesting. When you had mentioned the characters' names, I didn't see all of that before. I did get Warner and Graves but not Summers and Martin. What about Hutchinson?

Pa1nDru1d · Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:20 pm


	Quote: The lottery may have started out as a ritual to insure a good fall harvest, but it turned into an act of unessassary cruelty and violence.

Of course, in the minds of the adults it isn't unnecessary at all. Fear is the motivating factor. Even if some of the other villages have stopped sacrificing, they seem to have adopted a "better safe than sorry" attitude.

*
I agree, however, that I would rather sacrifice myself rather than see my loved ones be harmed. Then again, what would stop them from being sacrificed next season? It would seem more prudent to try to change things.

*
I found it interesting that it was the young boys that were most motivated to collect the stones. It brought to mind a picture of a boy pulling the wings off flies or burning ants with a magnifying glass.

Suzanne · Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:25 pm

Pa1nDru1d wrote:


	Quote: Of course, in the minds of the adults it isn't unnecessary at all. Fear is the motivating factor. Even if some of the other villages have stopped sacrificing, they seem to have adopted a "better safe than sorry" attitude.

I can see how you could come to this conclusion. It would make sense that the villiagers are in fear that the crops will not grow, or be as plentiful. However, it has been at leat 77 years since this has been going on. I would think they have expeirienced years without rain, or years with too much, and by now they should have a clue that the lottery makes no difference. I think I need to disagree with you on this one. I believe violence and cruelty are the motiviating factors in this ritual. The villiagers enjoy it, especially the women. This can be seen with Tessie trying to sacrifice her daughter, and with Mrs. Delecroix choosing the largest rock. Pure violence for entertainment sake.

Raving Lunatic · Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:01 am


	Quote: I believe violence and cruelty are the motiviating factors in this ritual. The villiagers enjoy it, especially the women. This can be seen with Tessie trying to sacrifice her daughter, and with Mrs. Delecroix choosing the largest rock. Pure violence for entertainment sake.

Or it could be viewed as making sure (in a ritual sense) not to get picked next time. Just a thought.

Krysondra · Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:13 am


	Suzanne wrote: I believe violence and cruelty are the motiviating factors in this ritual. The villiagers enjoy it, especially the women. This can be seen with Tessie trying to sacrifice her daughter, and with Mrs. Delecroix choosing the largest rock. Pure violence for entertainment sake.

I think this is also because Tessie is seen as a scapegoat. Once she is chosen, she carries all of the bad of the town within her according to the minds of the villagers. It is easy to be violent to someone who has become an outsider to the group as Tessie has. Thus, the villagers get their crops, their scapegoat, and their entertainment all wrapped up in one easy package.

Raving Lunatic · Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:21 pm

With a ribbon on top. It is easier to blame those you are dead than your own actions. Sad part is, there are countries who are literally doing this.

Suzanne · Fri Aug 14, 2009 10:40 pm

Krysondra wrote:


	Quote: It is easy to be violent to someone who has become an outsider to the group as Tessie has.

This is interesting. So, when Tessie "wins" she becomes an outsider, almost like a stranger. The villiagers can then rationalize that she is no longer a part of their group, even though they have lived with her and knew her. This way they can kill her without remorse. I never thought about this.

Droid said that it would be easier to be killed, than watching and participating in the killing of a loved one. I feel the same way. But, to continue this line of thinking, there would be no love between family members or friends. How could there be. At a young age the villiagers realize that either they will be killed, by family or friends, or they themselves will have to do the killing. Ick!

Krysondra · Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:49 am

It's a totally ick-worthy thought, but everyone in the village grows up knowing someone they know will die every year. It seems like a small village so it would stand that it's someone they know personally. So, any love would be a warped and dysfunctional love that they knew would eventually lead to pain and death.

Raving Lunatic · Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:45 am

My question is why would a family stay there? Just to kow that you father was killed one year. Then your best friend's sister. Then the neighbor down the road. Why would you let your children be in danger of being stoned....by you! I would get the heck out of Dodge!

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