The Lottery

"The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson tells the story of a lottery. It is not the lottery one would expect, however; for instead of a cash reward for being chosen, one receives the end of one's life. While reading the poem, one does not pick up on Jackson's hints throughout the story, but after rereading, it all becomes clear. She eloquently uses foreshadowing in this story. From the beginning, she hints at the "winner's" reward. She talks about how the children are collecting rocks in the town square. While this may seem trivial, for children often do things like this, it shows they are preparing for the lottery. Even the name of the postmaster who is mentioned is Mr. Graves, showing a grave ending to this story. One man mentions that the people in the north are considering ending their lotteries. One wonders why the people are ending their lotteries, though it becomes clear at the end. The one comment that gives some insight into the lottery is by the oldest man in town, who says "Lottery in June, corn to be heavy soon." While one has no idea what this means at first, we come to learn he is speaking of ritual sacrifice in hopes of plentiful crops. Shirley Jackson's foreshadowing warrants this short story a second reading, which one will likely find even better than the first.