Shirley Jackson, born on December 14, 1916, in San Francisco, California, remains one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. Known for her works that explore the darker sides of human nature, Jackson's writing has left an indelible mark on literature. Jackson was born to Leslie and Geraldine Jackson. Her early years were spent in California until her family moved to Rochester, New York, when she was a teenager. Jackson attended Brighton High School, where her writing talent began to emerge. She later enrolled at the University of Rochester but left after a year. Jackson then attended Syracuse University in 1938, where she met her future husband, literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. Jackson and Hyman married in 1940 and moved to North Bennington, Vermont. The couple had four children, and Jackson managed to balance her duties as a mother with her thriving writing career. Her experiences as a housewife and mother often influenced her works, particularly her semi-autobiographical writings.

Jackson's career took off with the publication of her first novel, The Road Through the Wall, in 1948. That same year, she published the short story "The Lottery" in The New Yorker, which became one of the most anthologized stories in American literature. "The Lottery" shocked readers with its portrayal of a small-town ritualistic stoning, highlighting the potential for violence and cruelty in everyday life. Her major works include:

·       The Road Through the Wall (1948)

·       Hangsaman (1951)

·       The Bird's Nest (1954)

·       Raising Demons (1957)

·       We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962)

Among her most significant works is the novel The Haunting of Hill House (1959), which is considered one of the finest ghost stories ever written. The novel explores themes of fear, isolation, and the supernatural, and has been adapted into several films and a television series.

Jackson's writing is characterized by its psychological complexity, dark humor, and keen observation of human behavior. Her works often delve into themes of identity, family dynamics, and societal norms, revealing the hidden fears and tensions within everyday life. Jackson's ability to create chilling atmospheres and unsettling narratives has earned her a place in the pantheon of great American writers. Shirley Jackson's influence extends beyond her lifetime. Her works continue to be studied and celebrated for their literary merit and insight into the human condition. Jackson passed away on August 8, 1965, at the age of 48, but her legacy endures. In 2007, the Shirley Jackson Award was established to honor outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic.

 

"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson: Thematic & Stylistic Contributions to Literary Modernism

"The Lottery," a short story by Shirley Jackson, was first published in The New Yorker in 1948. Despite the initial controversy it sparked, it has since become one of the most anthologized and analyzed pieces in American literature. This story serves as a compelling examination of human nature, societal norms, and the descent into violence. Through its plot, themes, setting, point of view, and characterization, "The Lottery" distinctly contributes to the landscape of literary modernism.

The story begins with the villagers of a small, unnamed town gathering for their annual lottery on June 27th. Children excitedly gather stones, a practice that has been carried out for generations. The adults discuss the lottery, some with a sense of dread, while others seem more excited. The Lottery is conducted by Mr. Summers, the town's official, who uses a black box to draw slips of paper. Each family draws a slip, and the one with a black mark on it is declared the "winner." The winner is then stoned to death by the other villagers. The story follows the events leading up to the stoning, including the drawing of the slips, the announcement of the winner, and the villagers' gradual descent into violence. Tessie Hutchinson, the unfortunate winner, protests, claiming the lottery is unfair, but her pleas are ignored. The villagers, driven by a sense of tradition and a fear of being different, proceed to stone her to death. Overall, "The Lottery" is a chilling and thought-provoking story that explores the dangers of blind conformity, the power of tradition, and the fragility of human decency. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of questioning established norms and resisting the pressure to conform.

Jackson's story is rich with themes that challenge the reader's perception of tradition, conformity, and the collective mindset. Key Themes and Symbols:

• Conformity and Tradition: The villagers blindly follow the lottery tradition without questioning its morality. This highlights the dangers of unquestioning conformity and the power of tradition to override individual conscience.
• Violence and Mob Mentality: The story depicts the rapid descent of the villagers into violence, showcasing how a group can quickly lose its sense of individuality and become a mindless mob.
• The Black Box: The black box, used to draw the lottery slips, is a powerful symbol of the dark and sinister nature of the tradition. It represents the suppression of individuality and the fear of change.
• Stones: The stones gathered by the children symbolize the violence and brutality of the lottery. They also represent the villagers' willingness to participate in the ritual, even if it means harming another human being.

The setting of "The Lottery" is deceptively idyllic, with the story taking place in a small, unnamed village on a warm summer day. This juxtaposition of a peaceful environment with the brutal ritual acts as a stark contrast that heightens the story's impact. The setting contributes to the modernist technique of subverting reader expectations, portraying a normal village engaged in a horrific act, thus reflecting the underlying darkness in seemingly mundane circumstances. Jackson employs a third-person objective point of view in "The Lottery," which lends an air of detachment and impartiality to the narrative. This perspective allows readers to witness the events unfold without the interference of individual biases, making the shocking conclusion all the more impactful. The objective viewpoint mirrors the modernist approach to storytelling, focusing on the external actions and dialogues rather than delving into the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters, thus maintaining a sense of realism and verisimilitude.

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" presents a cast of characters who, while seemingly ordinary, become chillingly complicit in a brutal ritual. Here's a breakdown of the key characters and their analysis:

1. Tessie Hutchinson:

• Role: The "winner" of the lottery and the victim of the stoning.
• Analysis:
• Tessie is initially presented as a typical villager, participating in the social gathering.
• Her vehement protest when her family is chosen reveals a self-preservation instinct, but also a hypocritical acceptance of the lottery when it doesn't directly affect her.
• She represents the arbitrary nature of fate and the vulnerability of the individual to the mob.
• Tessie's character shows the reader that even those who participate in an event can turn against the event when it effects them negatively.

2. Mr. Summers:

• Role: The official who conducts the lottery.
• Analysis:
• He is portrayed as a civic-minded individual, involved in other community activities.
• His casual, almost bureaucratic approach to the lottery highlights the normalization of violence.
• He represents the institutionalization of tradition and the way authority can be used to perpetuate harmful practices.
• Mr. Summers character shows how easily someone can become a part of something terrible, by just following orders, and following tradition.

3. Old Man Warner:

• Role: The oldest man in the village, a staunch defender of the lottery.
• Analysis:
• He embodies the blind adherence to tradition, even when its origins are forgotten.
• His fear of change and his dismissive attitude towards those who question the lottery reflect the dangers of unquestioning conformity.
• He acts as the voice of tradition, warning against any deviation from the established order.
• This character is used to show how dangerous old traditions can be, when they are not questioned.

4. Bill Hutchinson:

• Role: Tessie's husband.
• Analysis:
• He initially appears as a typical husband and father.
• His willingness to participate in his wife's stoning shows the power of social pressure and the breakdown of familial bonds.
• He represents the way individuals can sacrifice their personal values for the sake of conformity.
• Bill's character shows how quickly people can turn on each other.

5. The Villagers (as a collective character):

• Role: The group that carries out the stoning.
• Analysis:
• They represent the dangers of mob mentality and the ease with which ordinary people can commit acts of violence.
• Their collective behavior highlights the power of social pressure and the suppression of individual conscience.
• The villagers actions show how easily people can fall into line with a group, and do terrible things.
• They show the loss of individual thought.

 

Key Themes Reflected in the Characters:

• The Power of Tradition: Old Man Warner and the villagers' unquestioning acceptance of the lottery demonstrate the power of tradition to override reason and morality.
• The Dangers of Conformity: The characters' willingness to participate in the stoning, even when they have reservations, highlights the dangers of social pressure and the suppression of individual conscience.
• The Normalization of Violence: Mr. Summers' casual approach to the lottery and the villagers' matter-of-fact acceptance of the stoning reveal how violence can become normalized within a community.
• The Arbitrary Nature of Fate: Tessie Hutchinson's selection as the "winner" emphasizes the arbitrary nature of fate and the vulnerability of the individual to the collective will.

The characterization in "The Lottery" is subtle yet effective. The villagers are depicted as ordinary people, each with distinct personalities that contribute to the sense of realism. Tessie Hutchinson, the protagonist, embodies the role of the unwilling victim. Her increasing desperation and protests highlight the inherent injustice of the lottery. Other characters, such as Old Man Warner, symbolize the staunch adherence to tradition. Through these nuanced portrayals, Jackson critiques the dangers of conformity and the darker aspects of human nature.

"The Lottery" is a quintessential example of literary modernism, characterized by its exploration of disillusionment, fragmented reality, and the darker aspects of society. Jackson's use of irony, unconventional narrative structure, and the subversion of traditional themes resonate with the modernist movement's aim to challenge established norms and depict the complexities of human experience. The story's shocking conclusion serves as a commentary on the capacity for violence and cruelty within ordinary, civilized societies, reflecting the modernist preoccupation with the human condition and societal critique.

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" remains a powerful piece of literature that continues to provoke thought and discussion. Through its masterful plot, poignant themes, evocative setting, objective point of view, and complex characterization, the story contributes significantly to the canon of literary modernism. It challenges readers to reflect on the nature of tradition, the ease with which violence can be normalized, and the inherent darkness within human society. Jackson's ability to intertwine these elements into a cohesive and impactful narrative solidifies her place as a seminal figure in American literature.

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a masterclass in raising unsettling questions that linger long after reading. Here are some of the major questions the story provokes:

Questions About Tradition and Conformity:

• Why do the villagers continue the lottery? What is the power of tradition that compels them to participate in such a brutal ritual?
• At what point does tradition become harmful? How do we differentiate between traditions worth preserving and those that should be abandoned?
• What is the role of individual conscience in the face of social pressure? Why do so few villagers question the morality of the lottery?
• How easily can people be persuaded to participate in harmful acts simply because "that's how it's always been done"?
• To what degree are we all susceptible to blindly following traditions without questioning their purpose or morality?

Questions About Violence and Human Nature:

• What triggers the villagers' descent into violence? How can ordinary people be capable of such brutality?
• What is the nature of mob mentality? How does it override individual conscience and responsibility?
• Is violence an inherent part of human nature, or is it a learned behavior?
• How easily can society normalize violence?
• What are the potential consequences of unquestioning obedience to authority?

Questions About Social Dynamics and Power:

• How does the lottery reflect power structures within the community? Who benefits from maintaining the status quo?
• What is the role of scapegoating in society? How does it allow communities to displace their anxieties and guilt?
• How does the story comment on the arbitrary nature of fate and the vulnerability of the individual?
• How does the story address the idea that even in seemingly civilized communities, there can be a dark undercurrent of violence and irrationality?
• What is the meaning of fairness, when it is applied by a group that is conducting an inherently unfair act?

Questions About Interpretation and Meaning:

• Is "The Lottery" a commentary on a specific social issue, or is it a more universal allegory?
• What is the significance of the story's ambiguity? Why does Jackson leave so much unsaid?
• How does the story's ending affect our understanding of its themes?
• What are the modern day equivalents to the lottery?
• How does the story make the reader examine their own role in the society they live in?

These questions are at the heart of "The Lottery's" enduring power. It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about human behavior and the potential for darkness within even the most ordinary communities.

Bibliography

• Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." The New Yorker, June 26, 1948, pp. 25-29.

• Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery, or The Adventures of James Harris. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949. (This is the first book collection that included "The Lottery.")
• Jackson, Shirley. The Magic of Shirley Jackson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966.
• Jackson, Shirley. Dark Tales. Penguin Books, 2016.

• Friedman, Lenemaja. Shirley Jackson. Twayne Publishers, 1975.
• Oppenheimer, Judy. Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1988.
• Franklin, Ruth. A Rather Common Sort of Crime: The Social World of Shirley Jackson. Liveright, 2016.
• Parks, John G. "The Possibility of Evil: A Variant Reading of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery.'" Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 16, no. 3, 1979, pp. 320-23.
• Nebeker, Helen E. "'The Lottery': Symbolic Tour de Force." American Literature, vol. 46, no. 1, 1974, pp. 100-07.

• Jackson, Shirley. We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Viking Press, 1962.
• Jackson, Shirley. The Haunting of Hill House. Viking Press, 1959.

Notes:

• The initial publication in The New Yorker is the foundational source.
• The 1949 collection is essential for understanding the context of "The Lottery" within Jackson's broader work.
• Secondary sources offer critical interpretations and biographical insights.
• When researching, academic databases like JSTOR, and other literary databases are very helpful.