Introduction
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is a short story written just after World War II. It depicts the tradition of an annual lottery in a small town, in which one individual is randomly selected and stoned to death as a sacrificial offering, regardless of age or gender. The story highlights themes of blind obedience to tradition, conformity among most people, and society’s resistance to change. All these ideas are revealed through the central character of history – Tessie Hutchinson, a woman who becomes another victim of the lottery. This is the only person in the city who evolves from a narrow-minded lottery participant to his opponent by chance.
Tessie Hutchinson’s Role in the Society
Tessie Hutchinson is Bill Hutchinson’s wife and the mother of two children, who mainly cares for the home and children, as the author describes the traditional society in “The Lottery.” To better understand the character, studying her place in society is essential. “The Lottery” presents a patriarchal culture in which only men have absolute power and are responsible for their entire family in front of the community (Mon 2). In this sense, Tessa is in a position where she cannot affect anything in her environment. She is a typical woman of a patriarchal culture, located between “real” adults – men and children.
Many condemn Tessie for her conformism because she does not question the existing societal order and teaches her other children to adhere to the stoning tradition. The author shows that she is subjecting her own children to violence: “The children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson few pebbles” (Jackson 5). Even in modern society, where the price of resisting tradition is not as high, many, in a depressed state, do not have the time, effort, or education to examine the system critically.
Tessie Hutchinson as an Ordinary Person
Tessie Hutchinson represents an ordinary person who ignores political issues and does not question the tradition of the lottery. She pushes the lottery out of her mind and laughs it off when she is late for the event, indicating her non-committal attitude towards the tradition (Mon 2). For instance, when Tessie arrives late to the event, and jokes with Mr. Summers, saying, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe?” (Jackson 1). This quote demonstrates her initial attitude towards the lottery, which she perceives as a mere inconvenience that disrupts her daily routine.
Furthermore, Tessie’s character shows that ordinary people follow the norms unthinkingly without considering the consequences. Her initial apathy towards the lottery reflects the wider community’s reluctance to challenge established power structures and question the tradition (Mon 5). Nobody taught Tessy critical thinking; like everyone else in the city, she was exposed to Violence since childhood, and she was given stones in childhood so that she could participate in stoning to death.
Tessie Hutchinson as The Lottery Victim
However, Tessie’s attitude towards the lottery changes drastically when she becomes the victim of violence and injustice. As the story progresses, Tessie realizes the gravity of the situation, and her reaction changes from nonchalance to resistance. When her husband draws the marked slip of paper from the lottery box, Tessie protests to Mr. Summers, who did not give her husband enough time to choose a slip (Jackson 6). She realizes the full extent of the lottery’s brutality and unfairness. Tessie tries to resist it, shouting, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right!” (Jackson 7). However, it is too late to oppose something – she is stoned to death, and the spiral of violence continues unchanged.
The story shows how an unwillingness to fight for their rights, blind conformity, and veneration of traditions that do not serve a greater purpose and only harm lead to tragedy. First of all, society and her husband let down Tessie. Bill Hutchinson has power in society, but does not use it to protect his family.
However, the reader also perfectly understands that the main character lived in this system for years, participated in executions, and silently supported cruel social norms. In this sense, the situation evokes a sense of horror at powerlessness because it challenges people, by nature prone to conformism, to go against the foundations of society. However, this does not absolve them of responsibility, and often the system they support brings them destruction.
Conclusion
The central themes of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson focus on the risks of unquestioning conformity to tradition, adherence without critical thought, the perpetuation of brutality, and societal violence. Through Tessie’s character, the story highlights the role of ordinary people in perpetuating harmful traditions and power structures, as well as the importance of critical thinking and resistance against oppressive systems. The story also presents a critique of patriarchal societies, where women are marginalized and have little power to effect change. The tragic fate of Tessie Hutchinson serves as a warning against complacency and the need for active engagement in creating a just and equitable society. Overall, “The Lottery” is a powerful commentary on the human condition, and the story’s themes continue to resonate with readers today.
Works Cited
Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. 1948.
Mon, Thin Thin. “Exploring Actions and Personality of the Characters in the Short Story ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson.” Dagon University Research Journal, vol. 11, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-15.