The Lottery Themes

On a basic level, "The Lottery" asks us to think about the rituals and traditions we unthinkingly follow as members of our society. Beyond critiquing the ways in which custom obscures right and wro...

"The Lottery" tells the story of an annual tradition practiced by the villagers of an anonymous small town, a tradition that appears to be as vital to the villagers as New Year celebrations might b...

"The Lottery" explores sudden shifts in opinion and loyalties—in other words, hypocrisy. But it's worth asking whether changes in allegiance during the lottery are conscious enough to be construe...

"The Lottery" plays around with the concept of family in interesting ways. The thing is, each person in the lottery must draw by household, so this is the moment, each year, when belonging to a giv...