Interpretation of symbolism in the lottery by shirley jackson
'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is a short story that uses symbolism to convey its themes and messages. Some examples of symbolism in the story include:
The lottery: The lottery itself is a symbol of tradition and the dangers of blindly following tradition. It represents the idea that people will continue to do something even if it is harmful, just because it is what has always been done.
The black box: The black box that holds the slips of paper for the lottery is a symbol of the evil and darkness that lies hidden within tradition.
The stones: The stones that the villagers use to stone the lottery winner are a symbol of the violence and brutality that can be hidden behind tradition.
The names: The names in the lottery represent the idea of tradition as something passed down from generation to generation, as the names are passed down from families.
The villagers: The villagers, who take part in the lottery, represent the idea of the dangers of blindly following tradition, as they all participate in the lottery, even though it is harmful.
Overall, 'The Lottery' is a short story that uses symbolism to convey its themes and messages. The lottery, the black box, the stones, the names, and the villagers, are used to explore the ideas of tradition, the dangers of blindly following tradition, the evil and darkness that lies hidden within tradition, the violence and brutality that can be hidden behind tradition, and the dangers of blindly following tradition.