The lottery is an activity in which people pay to have a chance at winning money or prizes by random chance. Several people play the lottery each week in the United States, contributing billions of dollars annually to the economy. While many people play for fun, others believe that winning the lottery will improve their lives. While the odds of winning are low, some people do win large sums of money through the lottery.
In this short story, Jackson describes a small village in the middle of June as its residents assemble for their annual lottery. The children are excited, but the adults seem nervous and anxious as they prepare to draw numbers. Old Man Warner quotes an old proverb that says “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.”
Those who know about lotteries understand that the chances of winning are very low. They also realize that the lottery is a form of gambling. However, the town residents still have irrational beliefs about how to win the lottery. They have quotes-unquote systems that are not based on statistical reasoning, such as lucky numbers and shopping malls where they can buy tickets. They also have a lot of irrational gambling behavior when it comes to the lottery.
Although Jackson does not use a lot of characterization methods in this short story, she shows that the townspeople are unhappy with their fate. Mrs. Delacroix, for example, has a quick temper and is frustrated when she doesn’t win the lottery. Her action of picking up a rock to throw at it expresses her anger.