Historical Criticism of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

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Table of Contents

Historical Context
Critique of Conformity and Blind Obedience to Authority
Critique of Groupthink and the Need for Diversity and Inclusion
Critique of Violence and Discrimination
Conclusion
Works Cited

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson has captivated readers with its eerie tale. The story takes place in a small American village where a lottery is held each year to choose one resident to be stoned to death. Although “The Lottery” has been interpreted in various ways, historical criticism offers a prism through which people can more clearly comprehend its relevance and meaning. A literary method known as historical criticism aims to comprehend a literary work by evaluating the historical setting of the story. People may comprehend “The Lottery’s” reflections and critiques of the social, cultural, and political context in which it was written by taking this perspective, which also explains why it is still a potent piece of American literature.

Historical Context

Understanding the themes and significance of “The Lottery’s” historical setting is crucial. The post-World War II era saw substantial social and political change in America at the time the story was written. The Red Scare and the emergence of McCarthyism coincided with increased concern about the growth of communism (Robinson). Writing during this political and social turmoil, Shirley Jackson’s works capture the day’s issues. In “The Lottery,” the village’s residents mindlessly adhere to tradition without questioning its morals, displaying their fear of communism and desire for conformity (Jackson). The tale can be interpreted as a warning about the perils of groupthink and the need to have a personal conscience and exercise critical thought.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the Civil Rights Movement also gained steam, and Jackson’s artwork captures this fight for fairness and equality. As the victim is chosen randomly rather than because of innate guilt, “The Lottery” might be interpreted as a critique of prejudice and violence (Jackson). The way outsiders and underprivileged groups, like the Delacroix family, are treated in the novel also emphasizes the importance of variety and inclusion in society.

Jackson’s personal experiences and life experiences, in addition to these social and political considerations, affected her writing. She was a woman who lived in a culture where men predominated, and her art frequently depicts the battle for female autonomy and emancipation (Jackson). The women in “The Lottery” are restricted to supporting roles and essentially excluded from decision-making. This might be interpreted as a critique of society’s patriarchal framework and the necessity of gender equality.

In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson exposes the pitfalls of conformity and mindless adherence to authority. The annual lottery is something that the residents of the town take part in because it has been a cherished tradition for years (Jackson). Anyone who challenges the lottery is immediately silenced or shunned since it is portrayed as an essential and unchanging aspect of their lives. The townspeople’s commitment to the lottery’s customs reflects their respect for authority figures and their reluctance to question the status quo.

It is essential to consider how authoritative figures function in “The Lottery.” The official conductor of the lottery, Mr. Summers, is portrayed as a prominent member of the neighborhood in charge of upholding the lottery’s customs. The residents of the town admire and revere him, and he has considerable sway over them (Robinson). In a similar way, Old Man Warner, the oldest person in the neighborhood, stands in for the deeply ingrained attitudes and ideas of the senior generation. He argues that the lottery is essential for the survival of their group despite being violent and racist.

Concerns from the post-World War II era are reflected in “The Lottery’s” depictions of conformity and unthinking adherence to authority. The government’s investigations into alleged communist activity throughout the 1950s, which marked the birth of McCarthyism, stoked widespread dread and distrust of anyone who had an opinion different from the majority (Robinson). Many people were falsely charged as a result of the government’s stress on conformity and submission to authority, and false accusations devastated their lives. Jackson criticizes this cultural emphasis on conformity and its risks by depicting the townspeople’s unthinking adherence to the lottery’s customs.

Critique of Groupthink and the Need for Diversity and Inclusion

“The Lottery” not only criticizes uniformity and unquestioning submission to authority, but it also discusses the perils of groupthink and the necessity of diversity and inclusion. Groupthink is the term for when members of a group follow the rules and values of the group without exercising independent judgment or critical thought (Jackson). Although it results in the death of one of their own, the town’s residents blindly follow the lottery ritual in the novel without considering its morality or sanity.

The way Jackson depicts the town residents as a homogeneous community devoid of variation in thinking and opinion is clear evidence of her condemnation of groupthink. There is no disagreement among the characters because they hold the same ideals and views. This lack of diversity is further highlighted by the town’s residents’ purposeful exclusion of outsiders, as evidenced by Tessie Hutchinson’s treatment despite coming from another town.

Jackson’s critique of groupthink and the necessity of diversity and inclusion is especially pertinent to the 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Activists struggled against the prevalent groupthink that propagated prejudice and injustice during this time in order to integrate marginalized groups into American society (Jackson). “The Lottery” can be interpreted as both a cautionary tale about the perils of groupthink and support for diversity and inclusion as essential to advancement and social justice.

Critique of Violence and Discrimination

Violence and bigotry are two other significant themes in “The Lottery” that mirror the post-World War II historical environment. The lottery, where one community member is chosen at random and stoned to death, is where the violence of the story is most clearly seen (Jackson). The locals, conditioned to accept this act of violence as a necessary ritual, carry it out without hesitation or debate. The victim, who is chosen exclusively on the basis of their membership in the community, is mistreated in the story, which is thus clearly discriminatory. This person is only evaluated on the basis of drawing the indicated slip of paper, not on their personality, actions, or any other characteristics. This arbitrary selection procedure demonstrates the futility of discriminating as well as the perils of simply adhering to tradition without considering its morality or intent.

Jackson emphasizes the significance of resisting and questioning oppressive customs and systems of power by criticizing the violence and discrimination in “The Lottery.” She focuses on the need for empathy, compassion, and inclusivity and encourages readers to reject the tendency to follow social norms and expectations slavishly (Jackson). This criticism is still relevant today since bigotry and violence are still significant social issues, and readers worldwide understand the story’s message.

Conclusion

To summarize, “The Lottery” is a powerful and enduring piece of American literature that reflects and criticizes the social, cultural, and political environment in which it was written. Readers in the post-World War II era, when Americans were still trying to come to grips with the horrors of the Holocaust and the dangers of tyranny, related to the story’s condemnation of conformity and unthinking obedience to authority. The tale’s indictment of collective ignorance and the necessity of diversity and inclusiveness is still pertinent today. Finally, the story’s condemnation of violence and discrimination draws attention to the social and political unrest of the period and impels one to think about consequences of actions.

Works Cited

Jackson, Shirley. The ‘Lottery.’ Robinson, 1988.

Robinson, Michael. “Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Holocaust Literature.” Humanities, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, p. 35. Web.

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Historical Criticism of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

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