The Lottery

Details of modern small-town American life intertwine with the unsettling tradition of an annual event known as “the lottery.” In a quaint, unnamed village with a population of approximately 300, residents buzz with anticipation and anxiety on June 27. Children gather stones while adults prepare for this long-standing ceremony, believed to ensure a bountiful harvest. Old Man Warner shares an old saying: > “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” Yet, whispers circulate about nearby villages that have abandoned this grim custom, and speculation abounds that others might soon follow suit. Still, some villagers insist that this ritual should continue, as it has historically.

As the preparations unfold, we see coal merchant Mr. Summers and postmaster Mr. Graves work tirelessly the night before, compiling a list of all the extended families in the area and creating one paper slip for each. These slips, carefully folded, are placed inside an age-worn black wooden box, kept secure in Mr. Summers’ office until the lottery begins.

The first drawing aims to select one family, and a wave of relief washes over those not chosen. In one instance, a family sends word to their injured father to share the good news that they were not picked. However, it is Bill Hutchinson who draws the only marked slip, leading to his wife Tessie’s outcry that he was hastily pressured into making his selection. Since the Hutchinsons are a single household, the drawing for a household is bypassed.

Now, during the final draw, each member of the Hutchinson family—Bill, Tessie, and their three children—has a slip placed in the box. As the five draw their slips, tension mounts until Tessie discovers she has drawn the marked one. In a horrifying turn of events, the townsfolk—including Tessie’s young son Davy—gather the stones they had collected and begin to hurl them at her, while Tessie desperately cries out about the unjust nature of the lottery.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 16:51