The Lottery

            Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery,” is a perfect example of the ‘tribal’ nature of any small community. The community in this story is content with their ways and with having their yearly “lottery.” There is talk “that over in the north village they’re talking of giving up the lottery” (Jackson 294), however no one is actually planning on any sort of rebellion or change. I think this is true for most small communities, especially extremely small ones. Small communities are less willing to follow through with change. I think this is for the reason that most people have chosen to live in their small communities and therefore, like it the way it is. They do not want it to change for reasons such as it may get bigger, more dangerous, and/or more expensive. Old Man Warner, after the thought of giving up the lottery comes up, states “First thing you know we’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery” (294).

            The first thing I thought of while reading this short story was “The Hunger Games” trilogy, where a number of districts choose a female and male, both under the age of eighteen, to battle to the death. This is supposed to serve as a reminder to the districts that the State has and always will have the power to do whatever they want. However, after class yesterday, I thought of a television show I’ve recently become obsessed with, Sons of Anarchy. In this show the motorcycle club, Sons of Anarchy, take a lot of pride in their little town and pretty much run things the way they want. The community doesn’t challenge them or try to get them out of their town. The club sells guns to local gangs and transports drugs for a cartel. Many deaths have been the result of their “jobs.” In the beginning seasons, the town police officer was on their payroll, making it easy for them to get away with murder. I think some of the community felt safe knowing the club was there protecting their club, however some were probably scared to challenge them. I think this is much like “The Lottery.” Some of the community would probably like to give up the lottery but don’t want to challenge anyone’s authority or tradition and some of the community, like Old Man Warner, thinks giving up the lottery would be suicide.