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How Symbols, Allegory, and Myths used in “The Lottery.”
Introduction
The lottery by Shirley Jackson depicts a society that strictly adheres to the rules set through the use of certain norms and values. The story focuses on the issue of society following a particular laid out tradition without questioning the logic of the tradition and the reasons why it observed in the first place. The central theme presented here is the danger of tradition and the issue of blindingly following it (Jackson, Shirley, and Robert, P. 384). Most of the characters in the story are oblivious about the origin of the lottery. However, they are merely following it because it is the tradition. The lottery is not that which one expects winning but one that ends sadly through the killing of the winner of the lottery. Shirley Jackson, in her story, “The Lottery,” has portrayed each event with symbolic meaning by showing that every element she presented is worth an explanation, and this is something that makes her short story extremely fascinating and ensures the audience stays intrigu
ing.
Shirley Jackson’s Allegory, effectively employs symbols, allegories, and myths in the story. These styles enable the reader to get more involved in the story, they can deduce a clear picture of the events and themes. Moreover, the readers can partake in the emotions that run along as the lottery ceremony.
Allegory
An allegorical narrative is an extended metaphor used by narrators to tell a story in which the setting, the type of symbols used, and the characters possess both literal meanings besides the figurative meanings (SITE). The technique represents a complete narrative that conveys theoretical or abstract ideas to get the point across. First, the title “The Lottery” is a typical example of an allegorical short story. In this story, the readers learn about an annual lottery tradition that has existed for many years. In this activity, the community members participate blindly without questioning the activities. The readers, however, are not told the prize that is associated with winning the lottery. Naturally, the price of a lottery is money, but as the story proceeds, the readers realize that the lottery is associated with bankruptcy and death, the winner of the lottery is stoned to death (SITE).
Second, Mr. Graves, for example, represents what is going to happen in the story, the winner of the lottery will be stoned to death, and thus one is sent to the grave at the end of the lottery. Mr. Summer is also a cheerful and bright character and the owner of a coal mine. The author, therefore, uses this to suggest the association that he has with death and evilness. The box and the stool are also allegorical. In the story, The postmaster, Mr. Summers followed by Mr. Graves partook in carrying the three-legged stool in the square’s center and put the backbox on top of the stool (SITE), the box in question is black, the color is a symbol of elegance, formality, power, evil, mystery, and death. The old black box faces no iminent repleacement despite its apparent bad condition. This box, however, represents the meaningless, cumbersome, and indefensible old tradition that the community of the story is unwilling to change (SITE).
Symbols
Symbolism involves the use of a thing, spectacle, or a person to represent something considered less perceptible or less palpable (SITE). Symbols primarily represent concepts or ideas that can hold different meanings within a literary work (SITE). Symbolism is considered first in the title of the story. Winning a lottery has always been known to provide a sense of hope to the people. The lottery, in this case, takes a different turn as the story proceeds, instead of bringing joy, the lottery leaves the winner with a painful death. The lottery is a symbol that represents a cruel and barbaric act that results in the death of a family, friend, or neighbor. The consideration of allegory is also displayed in the sense that gambling can lead to harmful effects (Du Bose, p. 21).
Myths
The use of myths is depicted in the fact that the little town has to conduct the lottery every single year (Jackson, Shirley, and Robert, P. 384). Specific procedures are observed regarding the stool and the black box during the traditional ceremony. The community believes that the lottery has to be performed in a certain way; failure to do this may bring consequences to society; these consequences are mythical because the story does not tell of any consequences.
Works Cited
Ball, Janet M. “Shirley Jackson.” Critical Survey of American Literature, edited by Steven G. Kellman, Salem, 2016, page #. Salem Online, online-salempress-com.db20.linccweb.org https://online-salempress-com.db20.linccweb.org/articleDetails.do?bookId=860&articleName=CSAL_0183&searchText=shirley%20jackson&searchOperators=exact&category=Literature
Du Bose, Thomas. “The Lottery.” Masterplots, Fourth Edition, edited by Laurence W. Mazzeno, Salem, 2010, page #. Salem Online, online-salempress-com.db20.linccweb.org https://online-salempress-com.db20.linccweb.org/articleDetails.do?bookId=346&articleName=MP4_21429820000662&searchText=the%20lottery&searchOperators=exact category=Literature
Gioia, Dana, and R. S. Gwynn, eds. The Art of the Short Story. Longman Publishing Group, 2006.
Hague, Angela. “A Faithful Anatomy of Our Times.” Frontiers: A Journal of Women’s Studies, vol. 26, no. 2, 2005, pp.73-96. Literature Resources from Gale, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=18900714&site=lrc-plus. https://go-gale-com.db20.linccweb.org/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T001&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=3&docId=GALE%7CA137493114&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZLRC-MOD1&prodId=GLS&contentSet=GALE%7CA137493114&searchId=R8&userGroupName=lincclin_phcc&inPS=true
Jackson, Shirley, and Robert B. Heilman. “The Lottery: Comment.” Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Christopher Giroux and Brigham Narins, vol. 87, Gale, 1995, pp. 222-223. Literature Criticism Online. Originally published in Modern Short Stories: A Critical Anthology, edited by Robert B. Heilman and Brace Jovanovich, 1950, pp. 384-385. https://link-gale-com.db20.linccweb.org/apps/doc/KXAFHF657329666/LCO?u=lincclin_phcc&sid=LCO&xid=442ecfc7
Mazzeno, Laurence W. “The Lottery.” Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition, 2004 pp. 1-2. Literary Reference Center Plus, search.ebscoost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=103331MSS17759240001138&site=lrc-plus. http://web.b.ebscohost.com.db20.linccweb.org/lrc/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=56c673b7-75bb-4cb6-8b51-693681d42144%40pdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLXBsdXM%3d#AN=103331MSS17759240001138&db=lkh