The Lottery

            “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson was a very controversial short story written in the early 20^th century. Many people did not like this and some countries have even banned this story. This short story was about how a village continues a tradition that it started with the founding members of the village. The tradition is a lottery where a villager at random is stoned to death. The villagers all feel that this tradition is no longer needed, and it is also mentioned that several other villages have stopped using this tradition. Even after all of this the village still continues to do this.

            All of this just shows how much tradition influences people and that they do not like changing the way things are. We as humans as so used to things as they are and do not like change. Even though Jackson’s story was a little exaggerated it was all most like a wake up call to everyone. Some traditions are useless now or they influence our lives our lives. We continue traditions that were started so long ago even if we are not sure where they came from or why they were even started. Today we have many traditions that were started many centuries ago like wedding ceremonies. Why do we have ceremonies for weddings? Where did they come from? Or another tradition is Santa Claus. Why has Christmas changed so much that little kids want Santa to bring them toys and that they believe in a Santa Claus? Where did this tradition come from? People do not like change and continue a tradition throughout the generations and for what reason? These are questions that are hard to be answered but it is evident that everyone is influenced by traditions.

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