Reader response of "The Lottery"

Wilkin – De La Rosa

ESR.098

Prof. Maria - Jerskey

10/27/10

"Lottery"

The short story “The lottery” by Shirley Jackson took place in a small village, on a warm June 27th around 10: 00 am. The population of the rural community was about three hundred people. The main characters in this story were Joe Summers, the person who conducts the lottery. Bobby Martin, the boy who loads his pockets with stones that he will use after townspeople draw lottery numbers. He also helps build a pile of stones. Mr. Graves, a Postmaster and Mr. Summer's assistant. Clyde Dunbar the Village resident who broke his leg and cannot attend the lottery, also Tessie Hutchinson, the woman who arrived late to the lottery, and her husband Bill. Steve Adams, first villager to draw from the lottery box and the Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village. This story is about a traditional event, called the lottery, in which one person in the town is randomly chosen, by a drawing, to be violently stoned by friends and family. The yearly event was conducted by Mr. Summer. In the first round of the lottery, the head of each family drew a small slip of paper; Bill Hutchinson got the one slip with a black spot, meaning that his family has been chosen. In the end, each Hutchinson family member drew a slip, and Bill's wife Tessie, who had arrived late, gets the marked slip. In keeping with tradition, which has been abandoned in at least some other neighboring communities, So, Tessie is then stoned to death by everyone present as a sacrifice.

Part most I liked:

None one I did not agree with this tradition.

Part I found confuse:

Questions:

Why Mr. Hutchinson did not defend his wife?

What is the meaning of the black box?

Interpretation: 

This short story shows the weakness of mankind.  Also, it teaches us that even though people know something is wrong or bad they continue do it.