The lottery is a game of chance in which people try to match symbols or numbers on paper tickets for a chance to win a prize. It is a form of gambling, but one that can be beneficial to society as a whole if conducted properly. In the United States, state governments organize lotteries to raise funds for a variety of public projects. They also serve to discourage illegal gambling and help people who need money for essentials such as food and medicine. Despite the social benefits of lotteries, they remain controversial. In this article, we examine the history of the lottery and its role in society as well as some of the problems that have arisen from its use.
Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” takes place in a small American village where tradition and custom hold a dominant influence over the community. The story highlights issues of conformity and mindless adherence to authority that were prevalent in the post-World War II era.
A black box is used in the story to represent the lottery. It is mentioned that the box has been in existence for an unknown amount of time. It is also mentioned that it gets shabbier each year as it is used. This shows that very little thought was put into the creation of the box, but it was simply used as an instrument for a ritual that everyone takes part in each year.
Several preparation events take place before the lottery is held. The most notable event is the gathering of people to draw the papers. The gathering is not shown in the film version of the story, but it is evident that many of the same events are present as in the text. Mr Summers and Mr Graves are the two authorities in the story and they are in charge of organizing the lottery.
Once the drawing begins, people begin to choose their tickets. The first ticket drawn is from Mrs Adams, the wife of the local corn grower. She draws a paper that is marked with a black dot. At first, she jokes about the whole thing and makes light of it. Her attitude later changes as she realizes that she could potentially be a victim of the lottery.
After the initial success of the lottery, criticism began to focus on specific features of its operations such as the problem of compulsive gamblers and regressive effects on lower-income groups. These issues reflect the fact that a lottery is, at its core, a form of gambling, and gambling has traditionally been seen as something morally wrong. The criticism of the lottery also reflects the difficulty of trying to manage a gambling industry that continually evolves and expands. Ultimately, the lottery is a classic example of a policy that was established piecemeal with little consideration for the overall public welfare. It has become a source of revenue for state governments and it is not surprising that it can become an issue of controversy.