The Lottery

I have just read the short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson. I must say it is a very unusual story yet at the same time interesting. There are many messages the author is trying to get across. I feel the story is very meaningful though it has a shocking and chilling ending.I recommended it to my mother as I had enjoyed the story. My mother did not like the ending saying it was too cruel for the people to stone their friends. There is a question my teacher had requested us to brainstorm.

Question 5

What can we learn from this story?( How is it relevant to our society today?Do we have our own form of" lottery" as in the story?

I have learnt that silence is not golden. In the story, everyone followed the ritual blindly. Those that were against it kept quiet and even pretended to like it. Mrs Hutchinson, a character in the story, was like any other villagers in the village, not willing to make changes and not willing to voice their own opinion.If they found the ritual unfair and ridiculous, they should protest, speak up for themselves and not be like a dog, listening to the elders and leaders of the village. They should have stood up for their own beliefs. In the end, Mrs Hutchinson was chosen as the sacrifice. It was only then did she start to protest. It was by far too late! People will think she is just trying to save her own skin and therefore ignore her pleas. In the first place, she did not really like the idea of the ritual, she should not comply but instead should put a stop to this madness. If she had voiced it out , people would listen to her and may decide to abolish it. Many lives could have been saved, including hers as well. It was only when the misfortune had befallen on her before she started to complain. By then, it was just too late. We should learn from this story stand up for our own belief and not follow blindly traditions and rules. We each have a mind to think for ourselves. That is what the brain is for, to think! If we feel injustice, voice it out! People may agree with you. Many People do not voice their feelings because they are afraid of being laughed at or punished for it. If you are the first to stand up, people will tend to follow.

The story is quite relevant to our society. In a company, there are many rules and regulations, some set by the law while others set by the company itself. Imagine there is a rule that everyone hated but do not have the guts to say it to the boss. For example, the boss want everyone to wear a pink tie as he likes pink( this is not a real example. I am trying to think of a ridiculous rule) The tie is very ugly and the material too stiff making it uncomfortable. However, many people just kept quiet and do their job. Though they hated the tie, nobody dares to do anything. As the boss has power, they are afraid if they voice their opinion, the boss may be furious and fire them or give them a huge pay cut. If people are willing to stand up for their own opinion, people will follow. You just need that little spark to start the fire. If everyone supports your opinion, the boss will be overpowered and have to comply. It is because of fear that everyone follow the rules blindly.

Likewise in school, there are traditions or school rules and regulations that students must follow.Some of the students are not agreeable to these rules but they have to follow or suffer the consequences of being punished.Principals and teachers should be always willing to lend a listening ear to students with good constructive ideas so people are encouraged to voice out their opinion.

I agree that in a society, rules and regulations or traditions can exist so that there will be order in a country. However, these rules and traditions must be flexible and there must be rooms for negotiation, discussion and improvement. It is only then before the country or society can progress.