"The Lottery"

In Shirley Jackson’s, “The Lottery,” the theme of tribal natures in smaller communities is extremely evident.

“The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions.”

“There’s always been a lottery.”

“Some places have already quit lotteries,” Mrs. Adams said.

“Nothing but trouble in that,” Old Man Warner said stoutly.

            These few statements in the story are blatant cues that this is normal and traditional behavior for the community. There is little room left to argue the possibility of quitting the lottery with Old Man Warner constantly calling anyone who quits the lottery a “pack of young fools.”

            Tribal natures are usually linked to celebrations in this day and age. Events such as parades, seasonal festivals or contests are common in many smaller communities. I know that the small town I’m from has a Settler’s Day celebration every July where nearly everyone from the town gathers along the main drag to watch the parade, the rodeo is the next night, and there are various contests all through the weekend. During the wintertime we have Winterfest. Children compete to be the designer of the years logo, games are put on, and a bonfire usually happens at least one night. Although these are very different from a yearly stoning, they are still traditions that nobody would dream of taking away or changing too much that bring a community together at least a couple times a year.