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Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"- The Evil and Human Nature
Human beings are highly social beings and are meant to coexist with each other.
However, this is not always true all the time, as violence may crip in at the slightest provocation
or be perpetuated by traditions. "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson encapsulates the darker aspects
of human nature and the insidious aspects of tradition. Through the narrative perspective and the
unfolding events, Jackson explores the theme of evil inherent in human nature and critiques the
blind adherence to traditions that perpetuate such darkness. The story's setting is in a tranquil
village square on a sunny summer day when children are on holiday (Jackson, 1). The story
begins with a seemingly innocent annual ritual graced by usual conversations about tree planting
and women's gossip. This is juxtaposed with the gathering of stones, which might connote the
possibility of conflict but does not seem to imply such. As anticipated through the gathering of
stones, the story culminates in a chilling display of communal violence. This highlights the
exacerbated levels of impunity and inhumane trinity that only serve to vilify human dignity.
Jackson depicts a picture of villagers gathered for an annual lottery, which is essential for
kinsmen and residents in any place. However, the unusual ending of stoning one of their own,
Tessie Hutchinson, showcases the highest form of human evil (Jackson, 6). The author intends to
underscore the theme of evil within human nature by challenging the reader to confront the
darkness that can reside within seemingly ordinary people when they are bound by tradition and
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social conformity. Essentially, the capacity to unleash brutality was deeply embedded in the
happy villagers' faces and hearts. The ritualistic stoning of one of them shows the cruelty of the
villagers. Jackson portrays this evil subtly through the villagers' casual acceptance of violence.
This is exemplified by the line, "Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon'
(Jackson, 4)." The old Man Warner dismisses any criticism of the lottery as foolishness,
highlighting the ingrained nature of the villagers' acceptance of the ritual despite its horrific
outcome. The old describes these willing to give up the tradition as aliens who will start "eating
stewed chickweed and acorns (Jackson, 4)." In agreement with other villagers, the older man
postulates that the lottery is part of the community and cannot be relinquished. In this case, social
norms sustain the evil in society. Consequently, Jackson suggests that humans can regard evil not
as an aberration but as a fundamental aspect of human behavior when social norms dictate.
Jackson employs the third-person point of view in telling the story. This enables a more
open and non-opinionated way of conveying the theme of evil and human nature. The narrator's
matter-of-fact tone and objective description of events create a sense of normalcy. However,
what seems normal is gradually subverted as the true nature of the lottery is revealed. The
narrator allows the very nature of the villagers to unfold without adding his opinions to the
lottery. This perspective allows readers to observe the characters' actions and reactions without
the filter of personal judgment. This allows us to confront the horror of the situation more
directly. The narrator describes the stones being gathered by the boys in the same casual manner
as the men's conversations about "planting and rain, tractors and taxes (Jackson, 1)." The narrator
passes the message that the evil nature of men intertwined with the same level of good people
interact with daily. He intends to suggest that it is not easy to fathom the evil nature of humans as
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they go about their regular business unless invoked by some social-cultural dictates. This allows
evil to go unnoticed and unquestioned; however, its existence is certain.
The narrative critiques traditions and their role in perpetuating evil norms at the heart of
"The Lottery." The author packages the narrative to challenge readers to interrogate traditions
before implementing them. Furthermore, it advances the role of rituals in harboring hidden
injustices and cruelties. The lottery ritual is overseen by Mr. Summers, showing the
institutionalization of the evil tradition. The lottery also has procedural aspects, such as the
creation of lists, the swearing-in of officials, and the formal calling of names. The bureaucratic
nature of the lottery makes villagers distance themselves from the moral implications of their
actions. They make the lottery legal and correct in the eyes of the people, regardless of the
impact associated with the actions. These bureaucracies fuel the cruelty of the traditions and
justify their practicality. They serve to expose the true nature of men hidden in the normalcy of
occurrences through their unwillingness to embrace change. Mr. Summers performs his duties
without moral hesitation despite other villages, such as the North, abolishing the Lottery. This
critique is underscored by the physical deterioration of the black box and the reluctance to
replace it (Jackson, 2). The deterioration symbolizes the decay of moral values and the blind
adherence to outdated customs.
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" narrative is a testament to humans' evil nature hidden
under the disguise of bureaucracies, traditions, and laws. The narrative exposes humans'
disturbing nature rooted in the satisfaction with the status quo regardless of the negativities.
Jackson detaches himself from the narrative, creating a narrative that gradually reveals the horror
at the heart of an ordinary village. The author indirectly appeals to readers to question the moral
authority of traditions and rituals. He first shows existing complacency in challenging the status
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quo through the adamant ignorance of the voices of reason. These allow villagers to advance the
retrogressive practices that paint the community insensitive to humanity. The author exposes the
underlying capacity for evil that exists within societies. The importance of "The Lottery" lies in
its ability to provoke critical thinking about the dangers of blind obedience and the ease with
which cruelty can become normalized. Jackson presents the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson to
encourage the need to examine the complicity in unjust systems. This calls people to remain
vigilant against the possibility of evil creeping into our everyday lives despite the calmness.
Ultimately, "The Lottery" reminds humans that they must question the existing traditions and
norms. The traditions and the accompanying bureaucracies incentivize evil and cultivate its
perpetuity.
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Work Cited
Jackson, Shirley. THE LOTTERY. 1948, digitalbell-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/58AF5E74-5056-
907D-8DE8-C3BE81B60EA3.pdf.
