Dangers Of Tradition

Symbolism is the application of symbols to mean things or convey them to mind. In her narrative “The Lottery” . Shirley Jackson expresses her emotions towards man’s sloppiness and violent patterns of traditions. This is shown when the lottery takes topographic point in the narrative and the “winner” is stoned to decease to assist harvest growing in the small town. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism to stand for a sequence of events that occur throughout the narrative. She uses symbolism in the characters’ names.

the black box. and the lottery itself.

Symbolism is exposed in “The Lottery” in some of the characters’ names. which include Mr. Summers. Mr. Graves. Old Man Warner. and Mrs. Delacroix. In the narrative. Mr. Summers is a adult male who is responsible for all the civic activities including the lottery. His name is symbolic because the tradition of the lottery takes topographic point in the summer clip. Besides. the word summer is used to depict felicity. beauty. and repose. So. despite the feelings of felicity and relaxation that may come from his name. Mr. Summers plays a function in assisting with the decease of a villager.

What Does Pandora’s Box Symbolize?

Mr. Graves. the holder of the black box. assists Mr. Summers in carry oning the lottery. Mr. Grave’s name symbolises decease which is the result of the short narrative “The Lottery” . His name foreshadows that decease is to come. The writer chose to tie in his name with his character. uncovering that Mr. Graves plays a function in the decease of the villagers.

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Old Man Warner is the oldest adult male in the small town. and has participated in 77 lotteries. He is fearful of alteration and hence. he does non desire any alterations in the tradition of the lottery regardless of the awful result. He expresses that when he says. “…used to be a stating about ‘Lottery in June. maize be heavy soon’…” Reading that his name is Old Man Warner. the reader would presume that he will warn people of making the right thing and that he will be the wisest one amongst all the villagers – since he is the oldest therefore the more experient one. However. he does non. and he demonstrates that when he is at the forepart of the crowd promoting people to throw rocks at the victim of the lottery. Tessie Hutchinson. and stating. “come on. come on. everyone” ( Jackson 6 ) .

Mrs. Delacroix’s name is besides important in this narrative because the word “Delacroix” in Gallic agencies “of the cross” . In the Christian faith. the cross symbolizes self-respect. regard. bravery. and compassion. which is the exact antonym of the actions she portrays. In the narrative Mrs. Delacroix was the 1 who picked up the largest rock to throw at Tessie Hutchinson and said to her friend Mrs. Dunbar. “come on. haste up” ( Jackson 5 ) .

When people think of the color black they think of immorality. darkness. and/or something bad. In this short narrative. a black box is used to keep the faux pass of paper that are drawn out by the villagers. The black box is moth-eaten and the villagers can see that clearly. nevertheless. they do non desire to replace it. As Shirley Jackson says in her short narrative “Mr. Summers spoke often to the villagers about doing a new box. but no 1 liked to upset even every bit much tradition as was represented by the black box” ( 1 ) . This quotation mark shows that because they think it is a portion of the tradition of the lottery. the villagers want to go forth it as it is.

Shirley Jackson uses the color black to typify immorality ; the evil that will come from this black box. Shirley Jackson could hold besides used the black box as a mention to Pandora’s Box. In Grecian mythology. it is said that Zeus gave Epimetheus’ married woman Pandora a box and told her ne’er to open it. Out of wonder. Pandora opened the box and it unleashed all the bad things that exist in the universe such as hatred. poorness. and illness. Therefore. Shirley Jackson could hold used the black box in the narrative to typify that when the black box in “The Lottery” is opened. something bad will go on every bit good.

Shirley Jackson uses a great sum of symbolism in the existent lottery itself. She uses the brutal and merciless patterns of the lottery to pull attending to the inhuman treatment found in society today. The lottery is a tradition practiced by these villagers to convey fortune in their maize growing. by giving a villager. It isn’t logical that any good would come out of lapidating person to decease. yet the traditions and patterns make the villagers think otherwise.

The short narrative “The Lottery” uses a great sum of symbols to present what the writer wants her readers to see. Symbols such as the characters’ names. the black box. and the lottery itself make up the narrative and foreshadow events and thoughts that subsequently present themselves. In decision. by utilizing these symbols. Shirley Jackson was able to successfully portray her emotions towards man’s sloppiness.

Plants Cited

“Classic Short Stories” _The Lottery_ . Web. 26 March. 2010.

“Online Dictionary” _Symbolism_ . Web. 26 March. 2010