Essay - The Theme of Cruelty Examined in Shirley Jackson's Story, 'The...

The Theme of Cruelty Examined in Shirley Jackson's Story, "The Lottery,"

***** often comes in many forms. In Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery," we see human cruelty in its worst form because there is no excuse for it. ***** this story, we ***** cruelty manifest *****elf in the form of a ritual that makes ***** sense except for the fact that the ritual has been passed down for generations. ***** example illustrates how mankind can become a victim to its own mindless traditions. The theme of cruelty emerges through the words and behavior of the t*****speople.

***** behavior of the townspeople is very telling. We know ***** the people gather in the same place every year to participate in this customary ritual. It is interesting to note that the history of this lottery is lost. For example, we read that the "original paraphernalia" (Jackson 619) from where this ***** survives was ***** "long ago" (*****). The people are like drones because *****y did not like "to upset even as much tradition as ***** represented by the black box" (619). This is fascinating considering what is happening. Rather than question their behavior, they would rather sit back and let the madness continue. Instead, they allow innocent people to be killed. Th***** illustrates how ***** have become desen*****ized ***** what is happening. We ***** also see how they are desensitized when Mr. Adams tells Mr. Warner that a town near***** is ***** giving up the lottery, to which *****. Warner replies ***** *****y ***** a "p*****ck ***** young fools" (622). Mr. Warner ***** old ***** he is as much a creature of habit as the rest of ***** ***** is. His reply ***** *****. Adams indicates a truth about humanity in general, which is that if people do someth*****g ***** enough, they begin to believe ***** it is acceptable and perhaps even right. Here we see ***** tradition becomes essential to a community ***** it gives them a sense of belonging and strangely, a ***** of purpose.

***** ***** see how the ***** gather at the same place every year like robots.

***** read th***** men gather, "surveying their children" (618) and they talk of things like "Planting and rain, tractors ***** taxes" (618). The women also ***** and greet on another ***** exchange "b*****s ***** gossip" (618) as ***** wait for the event to begin. Here Jackson is presenting ***** lottery with everyday things such as talking ***** emphasize the absurdity of what is about to occur.

***** fact, ***** are told that the lottery is seen as just another "civic activity" (618) such ***** Halloween, square dances, and the teenage club. Th***** technique is extremely effective because up until this point in ***** story, we do not know what the lottery actually is. The word ***** often brings to mind images of a "winner" *****nd Jackson says very little about the prize.

Jackson does, *****ever, provide clues about th***** lottery, indicating that something sinister is going on. For example,