The Lottery

The Lottery Summary | Detailed Summary

Shirley Jackson takes every care to describe a beautiful morning in a small village. It is clear and sunny. Flowers are everywhere. The lawns throughout the village are brilliant green. The town square is the site of the annual Lottery, which was a two-hour affair for this very small village of three hundred souls. It is a bright and happy scene. Of course, the children are off from school, too. They are, at first, staggered by their freedom but then warm up to their freedom and begin to play vigorously. Even so, there is some tradition to be followed in their movements.

The boys know what to do. They already gathering stones. One boy, Bobby Martin, has pro-actively stuffed his pockets with stones while others searched for them. Eventually, a few of them put the stones, the premium smooth, polished stones, in a corner of the square and guard them against the other boys.

It is June 27^th. The Lottery has started rather late in this season in this particular village because it is a very short drawing, lasting only a few hours. Villagers can participate and get back to their homes for their special, noon dinner. In other villages, the events last longer, as much as several days. This is not just their tradition. It is a tradition of many villages.

The men watched their children nonchalantly, speaking of everyday affairs. Rain was one concern. Tractors another. They were farmers and they talked about the usual things that concern farmers. They were soon followed by their wives, who came somewhat together, wearing casual clothing, The women gossiped and joked together, greeting their husbands and calling out to their children. The children came to their parents when they were ready. Bobby Martin's took him to task when he dodged his mother, after she called him. He made Bobby stand beside him and his brother. There was an order of respect here and a tradition to be followed.

Mr. Summers, as always, was assigned to conduct the Lottery on this glorious day. He was a town leader, the owner of an important coal business. He led many civic events- square dances, Halloween shenanigans, teen functions and, of course, this one, the Lottery. He carried the box- the black, wooden one, into the Square. He was followed by the postmaster, Mr. Graves, who carried a three-legged stool. They put the box on the stool in the center of the square and requested some help from the audience. Mr. Martin and his son came forward to hold the box while its papers were stirred by Mr. Summers.

In some ways, this was a unique moment. Mr. Summers had successfully requested substituting paper for chips of wood. They needed to make allowance for the growing population and Mr. Summers had won the day, so tradition was broken in this Lottery. However, there were other traditions that would be respected this day. In particular, before the Lottery was to be open, lists needed to be compiled regarding the heads and members of each family and then there must be the swearing-in of the Lottery official.

There had been some loss of tradition in the past. For instance, a ritual chant had been discarded along with a special salute. All the official had to do now was to greet each participant as they came forward. As Mr. Summers turned to face the villagers, a woman came rushing down to the square and took her place in the back. Tessie Hutchinson told her neighbor how she had forgotten the day, but rushed there immediately when she realized she was late. Mrs. Hutchinson searched for her husband and children and found them in the front. She made her way there, laughingly apologizing. Would he have wanted the dishes left in the sink? The crowd laughed at her joke.

The Lottery began. Mr. Summers called for Clyde Dunbar. He was not there. His leg was broken so his wife had to fill in for him. Her oldest boy was not yet sixteen so he couldn't. When this was over, Mr. Summers inquired as to who was drawing for the Watsons. The tall Watson boy answered. They checked on Old Man Warner's presence. Once he signaled his presence, they were ready to officially begin. After the slips of paper were chosen, the villagers were instructed not to look at them until all of them were handed out.

Mr. Adams came up and chose the first piece of paper. He called out a few more names. Mrs. Dunbar went up. Then it was Mr. Graves' turn. Even though he was assisting Mr. Summers, he greeted him formally and took his slip of paper. As the events proceeded, people turned the papers over again, multiple times, but they did not open them. Mr. Adams talked to Old Man Warner. There were some who wanted to give up the Lottery. Mr. Warner would not have any talk of that. Would the people want to return to the Stone Age, too? The Lottery was an integral part of their lives. It was a welcome herald of the corn harvest.

Other names were called. Mr. Summer called out his own name and took his slip. Then he called out for Old Man Warner. This was his seventy-ninth Lottery. After he chose his slip, the Watson boy came up. Zanini was the last name. Mr. Summers held up his slip of papers and then told them it was time. They began to open their slips of paper, the women speaking all at once. When they had finished, it was Bill Hutchinson who stood there, staring at the piece of paper silently. His wife, Tessie, spoke up. He had been forced to select too fast. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Her husband told her to be quiet.

Mr. Summers asked if there were any other households Bill was drawing for, any other Hutchinson households. Tessie volunteered her daughter's family. However, that didn't count. So, basically, Bill was to draw for himself, Tessie and his three children. There is Bill, Jr., Nancy and Little Dave. Mrs. Hutchinson protests as each Hutchinson family members' slip is put in the box. Now each of them must draw again. Each of the children takes one. Then Tessie takes one, but petulantly holds it behind her back. Then, it is Bill's turn.

Now, they each open their slips. However, little Dave needs help with his. Mr. Graves helps him. The rest of the children's are blank. Bill's slip is blank, too. Her husband approaches Tessie. He holds up her paper. It has a black spot on it. It is Tessie who has been chosen.

The Villagers may have forgotten some of the old rituals, but they remember the part with the stones quite well. All her friends and neighbors now participate. Even her son, Davie, is given some stones. Mrs. Delacroix has a huge stone in her hand. Mrs. Dunbar has more moderate stones. Of course, all the children had their stones. They were ready. This is, after all, a community function.

Tessie Hutchinson was in a clearing now, as she is supposed to be. She is holding out her hands to her neighbors. She still tries to cry out about the unfairness, the injustice, as the first stone hits her on the side of the head. She is still screaming as the entire Village falls upon her, throwing stone after stone at her battered body- in the proper, traditional manner. According to the rules of the Lottery.