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賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖
鬲乇噩賲賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖 丕夭 卮乇賱蹖 噩讴爻賵賳
15 pages, ebook
First published June 26, 1948
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64205 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Jackson
324听books10.5k听followersShirley Jackson was an influential American author. A popular writer in her time, her work has received increasing attention from literary critics in recent years. She has influenced such writers as Stephen King, Nigel Kneale, and Richard Matheson.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
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September 20, 2020
Science Imitating Art
Jackson鈥檚 story was published in 1948. At the time, and since, it has been praised as insightful and criticised as obscure. But almost 20 years later, the French philosopher, Rene Girard, produced a theory which has a remarkable congruence with its theme and, I think, provides the best explanation of what Jackson was getting at in The Lottery.
Girard argued that our individual desires are never the product of some inner longing but always rather of the imitation of others. We want what other people want. This he called 鈥榤imetic desire鈥� and Girard went on to explore the implications of this insight for the next half century.
Mimetic desire, according to Girard, has a predictable trajectory that is familiar to advertising executives around the world. One person wants what another has, just because the other has it. This attracts the desire of others in a sort of exponential wave of wanting.
But widespread wanting of anything means, first, a shortage of that commodity, and consequently the mutual antagonism of all those who share the same desire. Girard鈥檚 contention is that this incipient hostility threatens to create a sort of Hobbesian world, a non-society, in which no cooperative or coordinated action, including effective government, can be established.
Human beings, Girard believed, deal with this situation unconsciously and instinctively by the mechanism of 鈥榮cape-goating鈥�, through which a group identifies one of its own members as the cause of its mimetic tension. This individual is both sacred and an object of communal hatred. The elimination of this individual is therefore not just necessary for the welfare of the community, but also forms the basis of religious practice in which the role of the scape-goat is transformed into a noble duty.
Girard goes even further in his later work to claim that the ritual establishment of the scape-goat is the most primitive form of representation, and consequently of language, that human beings have demonstrated. In a sense the essential foundation for human power in the world is religious violence which victimizes random members or groups in modern society.
Whether or not one agrees with Girard鈥檚 anthropology, and there is a substantial body of evidence to recommend it, his literary usefulness is demonstrated by the application of his theory to The Lottery. The theory explains, among other things the liturgical character of the story; its origins in a distant past; its particular relevance to a relatively isolated agricultural community; and its connection to a paternalistic hierarchy whose continued existence depends on the ritual.
As far as I am aware, Girard did not read The Lottery; but since he was in America at the time he might have done. In any case, it is certainly remarkable that an author of fiction like Jackson could have written such a tight short story which captures so much of subsequent academic work. Thus demonstrating, if demonstration were needed, the tremendous importance of fiction to cultural life.
For an introduction to Girard鈥檚 work see: /review/show...
Jackson鈥檚 story was published in 1948. At the time, and since, it has been praised as insightful and criticised as obscure. But almost 20 years later, the French philosopher, Rene Girard, produced a theory which has a remarkable congruence with its theme and, I think, provides the best explanation of what Jackson was getting at in The Lottery.
Girard argued that our individual desires are never the product of some inner longing but always rather of the imitation of others. We want what other people want. This he called 鈥榤imetic desire鈥� and Girard went on to explore the implications of this insight for the next half century.
Mimetic desire, according to Girard, has a predictable trajectory that is familiar to advertising executives around the world. One person wants what another has, just because the other has it. This attracts the desire of others in a sort of exponential wave of wanting.
But widespread wanting of anything means, first, a shortage of that commodity, and consequently the mutual antagonism of all those who share the same desire. Girard鈥檚 contention is that this incipient hostility threatens to create a sort of Hobbesian world, a non-society, in which no cooperative or coordinated action, including effective government, can be established.
Human beings, Girard believed, deal with this situation unconsciously and instinctively by the mechanism of 鈥榮cape-goating鈥�, through which a group identifies one of its own members as the cause of its mimetic tension. This individual is both sacred and an object of communal hatred. The elimination of this individual is therefore not just necessary for the welfare of the community, but also forms the basis of religious practice in which the role of the scape-goat is transformed into a noble duty.
Girard goes even further in his later work to claim that the ritual establishment of the scape-goat is the most primitive form of representation, and consequently of language, that human beings have demonstrated. In a sense the essential foundation for human power in the world is religious violence which victimizes random members or groups in modern society.
Whether or not one agrees with Girard鈥檚 anthropology, and there is a substantial body of evidence to recommend it, his literary usefulness is demonstrated by the application of his theory to The Lottery. The theory explains, among other things the liturgical character of the story; its origins in a distant past; its particular relevance to a relatively isolated agricultural community; and its connection to a paternalistic hierarchy whose continued existence depends on the ritual.
As far as I am aware, Girard did not read The Lottery; but since he was in America at the time he might have done. In any case, it is certainly remarkable that an author of fiction like Jackson could have written such a tight short story which captures so much of subsequent academic work. Thus demonstrating, if demonstration were needed, the tremendous importance of fiction to cultural life.
For an introduction to Girard鈥檚 work see: /review/show...
November 15, 2022
My Views-
Villagers gather at the town square,
in an idyllic fictional small town,
to participate in an age-old ritual of 鈥淭he Lottery鈥�!
Children collect stones,
not to build or play,
but for a more diabolical plan! 鈽�
Pieces of paper are stored in a black wooden box.
The colour black, foreshadows, something ominous!
But none can guess.
Chits are pulled out, by one, by all,
but lightning falls on one of the housewives.
She pulls out a chit with a black mark,
And what follows is fiendish, alas! 鈽�
She begs, she pleads,
she calls it unfair,
but a ritual is a ritual,
and needs to be executed for all.
Please read for yourself to know! 馃槉 (no-spoilers)
##################################
This Shirley Jackson鈥檚(SJ) story, published in 1948, is 鈥渄evastatingly shockingly dramatically intricately edifying鈥�
Lottery, is an age-old tradition, followed with a superstition of-
鈥淟ottery in June, corn be heavy soon鈥�
The fertility of corn has been linked with the lottery. The ghoulish result of the lottery, is considered to bring auspiciousness and growth! A superstition, which people have been following, without questioning, or fighting against it!
In today鈥檚 world, out of peer pressure, in any of the set-ups:-be it in school or office, house or market, humans follow each other impetuously- 鈥渢he herd mentality鈥�, without questioning the wrong or right! This has been infallibly reflected upon by SJ! We end up following traditions, protocols, without pondering, without questioning ourselves. If the rules/protocols, are valid, and good for the self/society or not?
In the plot, no one is contrite, but roguishly participates in the ordeal, blindly, recklessly! In my view, the huge group participating in the lottery, is a metaphor for democracy! SJ, has dawned upon us all, a question on conscious mindful living, and how democracy can also fail, devastatingly!
We end up reading a lot on totalitarianism, and so on and so forth. The Lottery, made me to question myself, the blindness of the herd mentality, that democracy brings along.
Democracy, in all plausibility, can render as a complete failure, when the people involved are blind, unconscious and uneducated about right and wrong. A good education and reformative ways, are the necessary pillars of a democracy, for it to function smoothly! Democracy should capacitate, it鈥檚 populace to live consciously and fearlessly. I know it may sound lame, that I am linking democracy with 鈥淭he Lottery鈥�, but I felt, that鈥檚 what SJ also tried all of us to reflect on!
This reading left me emotionally knackered and jaded, considering, the premise in which I started reading, all gaiety and hearty, but the unexpected ending, left me to dwell in Jackson鈥檚 mind for few days, to try and think what and how she thought! (Trying to keep away from spoilers, which is really tough in a short story of this capacity).
I was agog from the first page till the last. I conjectured the plot to be hackneyed, as the title suggests, but I was left gob-smacked! Why Shirley Jackson, would decoy the readers with an alluring title, into a horrendous ending? But the plot, offers a good bunch of learnings, which makes it worth the read! A well-deserved 4-stars. Docking a star, just for the rapid, sudden ending (though nothing felt contrived, but is definitely crisp and nuanced!).
I felt the story, is a 鈥渞equiem of the evils of superstition and herd-mentality鈥�!! Not one, but all are culpable, in the plot!
I wish if SJ would have worked on the short and rapid ending, and made it a bit more detailed. This would have allowed the savage-blow and the fluttering hearts to return to the wonted quietude! 馃槉
It would have helped the reader to easily reflect more, on the superstitions/societal failures and causes!
Seriously, I could have never dreamt about the imminent diabolical ending 馃槉
Special thanks, to an avid-reader friend, Rosh, for suggesting the story!!
Villagers gather at the town square,
in an idyllic fictional small town,
to participate in an age-old ritual of 鈥淭he Lottery鈥�!
Children collect stones,
not to build or play,
but for a more diabolical plan! 鈽�
Pieces of paper are stored in a black wooden box.
The colour black, foreshadows, something ominous!
But none can guess.
Chits are pulled out, by one, by all,
but lightning falls on one of the housewives.
She pulls out a chit with a black mark,
And what follows is fiendish, alas! 鈽�
She begs, she pleads,
she calls it unfair,
but a ritual is a ritual,
and needs to be executed for all.
Please read for yourself to know! 馃槉 (no-spoilers)
##################################
This Shirley Jackson鈥檚(SJ) story, published in 1948, is 鈥渄evastatingly shockingly dramatically intricately edifying鈥�
Lottery, is an age-old tradition, followed with a superstition of-
鈥淟ottery in June, corn be heavy soon鈥�
The fertility of corn has been linked with the lottery. The ghoulish result of the lottery, is considered to bring auspiciousness and growth! A superstition, which people have been following, without questioning, or fighting against it!
In today鈥檚 world, out of peer pressure, in any of the set-ups:-be it in school or office, house or market, humans follow each other impetuously- 鈥渢he herd mentality鈥�, without questioning the wrong or right! This has been infallibly reflected upon by SJ! We end up following traditions, protocols, without pondering, without questioning ourselves. If the rules/protocols, are valid, and good for the self/society or not?
In the plot, no one is contrite, but roguishly participates in the ordeal, blindly, recklessly! In my view, the huge group participating in the lottery, is a metaphor for democracy! SJ, has dawned upon us all, a question on conscious mindful living, and how democracy can also fail, devastatingly!
We end up reading a lot on totalitarianism, and so on and so forth. The Lottery, made me to question myself, the blindness of the herd mentality, that democracy brings along.
Democracy, in all plausibility, can render as a complete failure, when the people involved are blind, unconscious and uneducated about right and wrong. A good education and reformative ways, are the necessary pillars of a democracy, for it to function smoothly! Democracy should capacitate, it鈥檚 populace to live consciously and fearlessly. I know it may sound lame, that I am linking democracy with 鈥淭he Lottery鈥�, but I felt, that鈥檚 what SJ also tried all of us to reflect on!
This reading left me emotionally knackered and jaded, considering, the premise in which I started reading, all gaiety and hearty, but the unexpected ending, left me to dwell in Jackson鈥檚 mind for few days, to try and think what and how she thought! (Trying to keep away from spoilers, which is really tough in a short story of this capacity).
I was agog from the first page till the last. I conjectured the plot to be hackneyed, as the title suggests, but I was left gob-smacked! Why Shirley Jackson, would decoy the readers with an alluring title, into a horrendous ending? But the plot, offers a good bunch of learnings, which makes it worth the read! A well-deserved 4-stars. Docking a star, just for the rapid, sudden ending (though nothing felt contrived, but is definitely crisp and nuanced!).
I felt the story, is a 鈥渞equiem of the evils of superstition and herd-mentality鈥�!! Not one, but all are culpable, in the plot!
I wish if SJ would have worked on the short and rapid ending, and made it a bit more detailed. This would have allowed the savage-blow and the fluttering hearts to return to the wonted quietude! 馃槉
It would have helped the reader to easily reflect more, on the superstitions/societal failures and causes!
Seriously, I could have never dreamt about the imminent diabolical ending 馃槉
Special thanks, to an avid-reader friend, Rosh, for suggesting the story!!
June 3, 2021
Trust me, this is not a lottery you want to win!
February 28, 2023
A short story with a nasty sting that leaves you questioning human nature. I also note now that this is my review #666 (or was before I rewrote it in 2023).
It opens idyllically:
鈥�The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the village square鈥�鈥�.
It鈥檚 the annual public lottery in a small farming community, but there is vague foreshadowing of some darker taboo: the boys are boisterous, the girls reserved, and the men tell jokes without laughing. Further unease comes from the setting being both familiar and non-specific: past or future, USA or elsewhere, and are religion or political regime factors?
It's a lottery no one wants to win. What made this especially unsettling is that there is no reason for the lottery beyond that of tradition, and a vague link to hopes of a good harvest.
鈥�There's always been a lottery.鈥�
鈥�Much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded.鈥�
The participants don鈥檛 know much about the origins, nor seem to care. It鈥檚 universally known, but reluctantly accepted: they鈥檙e inured to it. What little challenge there is, is quickly quashed. The power of crowds, consensus, community, or mob?
Image: A hand, brandishing a stone ()
What would you do?
We like to think we鈥檙e good people, who would only do cruel things in extremis, when there is no alternative. Jackson鈥檚 story suggests the threshold may be much lower if the right/wrong environment is set up. This was published shortly after WW2. Perhaps she was wondering how previously ordinary people came to commit atrocities.
Quotes
鈥� 鈥淭he original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago鈥� There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it.鈥�
鈥� 鈥溾€楾hey do say,鈥� Mr Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, 鈥榯hat over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery.鈥�
Old Man Warner snorted. 鈥楶ack of crazy fools,鈥� he said. 鈥楲istening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while.鈥欌€�
鈥� 鈥淎ll of us took the same chance.鈥� [But random 鈮� fair]
See also
鈥� Ursula Le Guin鈥檚 The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas, which I reviewed HERE, also starts idyllically, before revealing something dark. However, their tradition is explicitly faith-based, not mindless application of tradition.
鈥� Kafka's short story, In the Penal Colony, which I reviewed HERE, is told by outsider, observing a strange and disturbing local custom. There is at least a reason, albeit a horribly twisted one.
鈥� I read Ralph Ellison鈥檚 A Party Down at the Square just last week, and reviewed it HERE. That also has a murderous mob in a town square, but is otherwise very different. That is horrifically targeted (race) whereas this is horrific for its randomness. Ellison was good friends of Jackson and her husband and was godfather to their youngest child. See Harvard Review, .
鈥� Susanne Collins鈥� The Hunger Games has a deadly lottery. I鈥檝e read only the first book and not seen the films, but my 2011 review, HERE, remains the one with the most comments and most vigorous debate.
鈥� The box, that probably has no original components, is like Stan Holloway鈥檚 鈥渞eal old original axe鈥� in the poem, Beefeater, .
鈥� Rather different, but a scene from Life of Brian, .
鈥� Jackson penned an essay about how she wrote the story (all at once, with minimal planning and editing, apparently), submitted it to the New Yorker (the only change they wanted was for the lottery date to match publication date), and how she was inundated with letters, mostly very critical, and often abusive. See .
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story .
You can join the group here.
It opens idyllically:
鈥�The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the village square鈥�鈥�.
It鈥檚 the annual public lottery in a small farming community, but there is vague foreshadowing of some darker taboo: the boys are boisterous, the girls reserved, and the men tell jokes without laughing. Further unease comes from the setting being both familiar and non-specific: past or future, USA or elsewhere, and are religion or political regime factors?
It's a lottery no one wants to win. What made this especially unsettling is that there is no reason for the lottery beyond that of tradition, and a vague link to hopes of a good harvest.
鈥�There's always been a lottery.鈥�
鈥�Much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded.鈥�
The participants don鈥檛 know much about the origins, nor seem to care. It鈥檚 universally known, but reluctantly accepted: they鈥檙e inured to it. What little challenge there is, is quickly quashed. The power of crowds, consensus, community, or mob?
Image: A hand, brandishing a stone ()
What would you do?
We like to think we鈥檙e good people, who would only do cruel things in extremis, when there is no alternative. Jackson鈥檚 story suggests the threshold may be much lower if the right/wrong environment is set up. This was published shortly after WW2. Perhaps she was wondering how previously ordinary people came to commit atrocities.
Quotes
鈥� 鈥淭he original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago鈥� There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it.鈥�
鈥� 鈥溾€楾hey do say,鈥� Mr Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, 鈥榯hat over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery.鈥�
Old Man Warner snorted. 鈥楶ack of crazy fools,鈥� he said. 鈥楲istening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while.鈥欌€�
鈥� 鈥淎ll of us took the same chance.鈥� [But random 鈮� fair]
See also
鈥� Ursula Le Guin鈥檚 The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas, which I reviewed HERE, also starts idyllically, before revealing something dark. However, their tradition is explicitly faith-based, not mindless application of tradition.
鈥� Kafka's short story, In the Penal Colony, which I reviewed HERE, is told by outsider, observing a strange and disturbing local custom. There is at least a reason, albeit a horribly twisted one.
鈥� I read Ralph Ellison鈥檚 A Party Down at the Square just last week, and reviewed it HERE. That also has a murderous mob in a town square, but is otherwise very different. That is horrifically targeted (race) whereas this is horrific for its randomness. Ellison was good friends of Jackson and her husband and was godfather to their youngest child. See Harvard Review, .
鈥� Susanne Collins鈥� The Hunger Games has a deadly lottery. I鈥檝e read only the first book and not seen the films, but my 2011 review, HERE, remains the one with the most comments and most vigorous debate.
鈥� The box, that probably has no original components, is like Stan Holloway鈥檚 鈥渞eal old original axe鈥� in the poem, Beefeater, .
鈥� Rather different, but a scene from Life of Brian, .
鈥� Jackson penned an essay about how she wrote the story (all at once, with minimal planning and editing, apparently), submitted it to the New Yorker (the only change they wanted was for the lottery date to match publication date), and how she was inundated with letters, mostly very critical, and often abusive. See .
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story .
You can join the group here.
September 8, 2021
The Lottery, Shirley Jackson
The Lottery is a short story by Shirley Jackson written mere months before its first publication, in the June 26, 1948 issue of The NewYorker. The story describes a fictional small town which observes an annual ritual known as "the lottery". The Lottery details a long-established rite that culminates in murder.
毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 趩丕倬 卮丿賴 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳: 芦賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖禄貨 芦亘禺鬲 丌夭賲丕蹖蹖禄貙 芦賱丕鬲丕乇蹖禄貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮乇賱蹖 噩讴爻賵賳貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩賲 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2015賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮乇賱蹖 噩讴爻锟斤拷賳貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 诏賱卮蹖乇蹖貨 丿乇 15氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賵鬲丕賴 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳 : 亘禺鬲 丌夭賲丕蹖蹖貙 鬲乇噩賲賴 賵 賳賯丿: 賮丕胤賲賴 賮賵賱丕丿蹖 賵 賲乇蹖賲 禺乇丿賲賳丿貙 诏賱爻鬲丕賳賴貙 1388貨
毓賳賵丕賳 : 賱丕鬲丕乇蹖貙 鬲乇噩賲賴: 賮乇夭丕丿 丕亘乇賯賵蹖蹖貙 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 睾賳趩賴貙 1394貙 丿乇 17氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9786007721056貨
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丕 亘賴 賴賲乇丕賴 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丿蹖诏乇 噩賳丕亘 芦噩毓賮乇 賲丿乇爻 氐丕丿賯蹖禄 賳蹖夭 丿乇 爻丕賱 1371賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貙 賵 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 丿乇 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭 賲賳鬲卮乇 讴乇丿賴 丕賳丿
賴卮丿丕乇 丕诏乇 賲蹖禺賵丕賴蹖丿 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賳丿蹖丿 賱胤賮丕 丕夭 禺賵丕賳卮 丕丿丕賲賴 蹖 乇蹖賵蹖賵 禺賵丿丿丿丕乇蹖 讴賳蹖丿
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賵鬲丕賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1948賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 丿乇 芦賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴乇禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 芦賱丕鬲丕乇蹖禄 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿賴讴丿賴鈥� 丕蹖 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賴乇 爻丕賱 丿乇 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 賴賮鬲賲 丕夭 賲丕賴 跇賵卅賳貙 賲乇丿賲丕賳 丿賴讴丿賴貙 丿賵乇 賴賲 诏乇丿 丌賲丿賴貙 賵 丌蹖蹖賳 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 讴乇丿賳 讴爻蹖 乇丕 丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫囐嗀� 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 亘丕 賱丕鬲丕乇蹖 (賯乇毓賴鈥� 讴卮蹖) 亘乇诏夭蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 賲乇丿賲丕賳 丕賵 乇丕 爻賳诏爻丕乇 賲蹖讴賳賳丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 11/09/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 16/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Lottery is a short story by Shirley Jackson written mere months before its first publication, in the June 26, 1948 issue of The NewYorker. The story describes a fictional small town which observes an annual ritual known as "the lottery". The Lottery details a long-established rite that culminates in murder.
毓賳賵丕賳賴丕蹖 趩丕倬 卮丿賴 丿乇 丕蹖乇丕賳: 芦賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖禄貨 芦亘禺鬲 丌夭賲丕蹖蹖禄貙 芦賱丕鬲丕乇蹖禄貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮乇賱蹖 噩讴爻賵賳貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩賲 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2015賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 賯乇毓賴 讴卮蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 卮乇賱蹖 噩讴爻锟斤拷賳貙 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕丨賲丿 诏賱卮蹖乇蹖貨 丿乇 15氐貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 讴賵鬲丕賴 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 20賲
毓賳賵丕賳 : 亘禺鬲 丌夭賲丕蹖蹖貙 鬲乇噩賲賴 賵 賳賯丿: 賮丕胤賲賴 賮賵賱丕丿蹖 賵 賲乇蹖賲 禺乇丿賲賳丿貙 诏賱爻鬲丕賳賴貙 1388貨
毓賳賵丕賳 : 賱丕鬲丕乇蹖貙 鬲乇噩賲賴: 賮乇夭丕丿 丕亘乇賯賵蹖蹖貙 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 睾賳趩賴貙 1394貙 丿乇 17氐貙 卮丕亘讴 9786007721056貨
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丕 亘賴 賴賲乇丕賴 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丿蹖诏乇 噩賳丕亘 芦噩毓賮乇 賲丿乇爻 氐丕丿賯蹖禄 賳蹖夭 丿乇 爻丕賱 1371賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貙 賵 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 丿乇 賳卮乇 賲乇讴夭 賲賳鬲卮乇 讴乇丿賴 丕賳丿
賴卮丿丕乇 丕诏乇 賲蹖禺賵丕賴蹖丿 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇丕 亘禺賵丕賳丿蹖丿 賱胤賮丕 丕夭 禺賵丕賳卮 丕丿丕賲賴 蹖 乇蹖賵蹖賵 禺賵丿丿丿丕乇蹖 讴賳蹖丿
丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 讴賵鬲丕賴 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 亘丕乇 丿乇 爻丕賱 1948賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 丿乇 芦賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴乇禄 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿貨 芦賱丕鬲丕乇蹖禄 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿賴讴丿賴鈥� 丕蹖 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賴乇 爻丕賱 丿乇 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 賴賮鬲賲 丕夭 賲丕賴 跇賵卅賳貙 賲乇丿賲丕賳 丿賴讴丿賴貙 丿賵乇 賴賲 诏乇丿 丌賲丿賴貙 賵 丌蹖蹖賳 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 讴乇丿賳 讴爻蹖 乇丕 丕賳噩丕賲 賲蹖鈥屫囐嗀� 賯乇亘丕賳蹖 亘丕 賱丕鬲丕乇蹖 (賯乇毓賴鈥� 讴卮蹖) 亘乇诏夭蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 賵 賲乇丿賲丕賳 丕賵 乇丕 爻賳诏爻丕乇 賲蹖讴賳賳丿貨
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 11/09/1399賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 16/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
May 8, 2023
What a creepy short story. It is my first encounter with the author although I've had We Have Always Lived in the Castle on my TBR for ages (2014). Hmm, I do not want to give spoilers so I will only say that the lottery, which takes place in a Small American town, is not your regular one and I am not sure anyone would like to win it.
Is it beneath the surface a story about free will, herd effect, traditions that are kept without being questioned? Yes, I believe so.
Is it beneath the surface a story about free will, herd effect, traditions that are kept without being questioned? Yes, I believe so.
February 25, 2025
The DARK AND FORGOTTEN side of the First Day of a new Season!
An eerily quiet, but intensely creepy story - filled with primeval hints of a dark daylight ritual in the blazing June sun - which can only have its genesis in half-glimpsed murderous terrors we have all forgotten.
Towards the end of June each year, a primitive tom-tom seems to beat in our collective unconscious "like a human taxi, throbbing." It is the Summer Solstice. An awful time for sensitive hypochondriacs like me, who strive to keep ancient memories at bay.
Yet, the taxi is waiting. To take us to parts unknown!
So, in a village square in the American Midwest, a whole village's townspeople have left their fields, schools and kitchen for the annual main summer's event...
The Lottery.
The hamlet is all there gathered together, politely jocular yet subdued.
The townsfolk chat amiably, yet there is fear in their voices and glances.
The allotted time approaches, as the minute hands of the clock inch forward.
What can we expect? Something devilishly weird, maybe?
It sure seems Ms. Jackson has something up her sleeve!
Well, to address those suspicions let's check out our references in a look back at the traditional conducting of ancient midsummer celebrations:
This first one's from a book on modern witchcraft called Wicca, by Scott Cunningham: "Midsummer, the Summer Solstice, also known as Litha, arrives when the power of Nature achieves its highest point."
Shades of the Rite of Spring, maybe? And after this date, the world starts to descend more and more into the eventual Dark of Winter. A time of light and fertility going into a time of darkness and death.
And you'll note The Lottery is drawn here on June 27th.
During the Descent into Death.
OK - I think I've said enough to get your imagination going!
It's a slim story. It's cheap (or free if you get the PDF on the web). And it's a quick 'n spooky read.
Need I say more?
Read it!
Just don't read it under a Full Moon.
An eerily quiet, but intensely creepy story - filled with primeval hints of a dark daylight ritual in the blazing June sun - which can only have its genesis in half-glimpsed murderous terrors we have all forgotten.
Towards the end of June each year, a primitive tom-tom seems to beat in our collective unconscious "like a human taxi, throbbing." It is the Summer Solstice. An awful time for sensitive hypochondriacs like me, who strive to keep ancient memories at bay.
Yet, the taxi is waiting. To take us to parts unknown!
So, in a village square in the American Midwest, a whole village's townspeople have left their fields, schools and kitchen for the annual main summer's event...
The Lottery.
The hamlet is all there gathered together, politely jocular yet subdued.
The townsfolk chat amiably, yet there is fear in their voices and glances.
The allotted time approaches, as the minute hands of the clock inch forward.
What can we expect? Something devilishly weird, maybe?
It sure seems Ms. Jackson has something up her sleeve!
Well, to address those suspicions let's check out our references in a look back at the traditional conducting of ancient midsummer celebrations:
This first one's from a book on modern witchcraft called Wicca, by Scott Cunningham: "Midsummer, the Summer Solstice, also known as Litha, arrives when the power of Nature achieves its highest point."
Shades of the Rite of Spring, maybe? And after this date, the world starts to descend more and more into the eventual Dark of Winter. A time of light and fertility going into a time of darkness and death.
And you'll note The Lottery is drawn here on June 27th.
During the Descent into Death.
OK - I think I've said enough to get your imagination going!
It's a slim story. It's cheap (or free if you get the PDF on the web). And it's a quick 'n spooky read.
Need I say more?
Read it!
Just don't read it under a Full Moon.
August 31, 2017
This short story is my second classic short story this year and was first published in 1948, yet the story it told is timeless. It is also horrific.
The story begins in a happy, cheerful day late in June (the 27th) which is traditionally the day for the Lottery. This tradition has been going on annually for many years 鈥� even the oldest citizen in the town recalls that it had been occurring since before he could remember.
Although some people are talking about other nearby towns that no longer have the Lottery, the majority in this village seem to be traditionalists who feel that all kinds of bad things 鈥� including crop failures 鈥� would occur if they no longer held it.
This was all very interesting and then one woman starts to speak out strongly against the process when her husband holds the winning ticket. From there, each family member draws a new ticket and only one of them has a mark on it.
From bright to dark to darker and darkest.
For me, this story stands out as a caution; of what can happen when people blindly follow along with an idea or concept because it has always been done that way. It may be called duty or responsibility but it can also be called cowardice and going with the flow because it is the path of least resistance. It can also be called ignorance because no-one is giving thought to consequences, nor how they would feel if they were the ultimate 鈥渨inner鈥�.
This is not an enjoyable read, but for sheer power in the writing and the many thoughts and feelings it evokes, it definitely deserves 5 Stars.
The story begins in a happy, cheerful day late in June (the 27th) which is traditionally the day for the Lottery. This tradition has been going on annually for many years 鈥� even the oldest citizen in the town recalls that it had been occurring since before he could remember.
Although some people are talking about other nearby towns that no longer have the Lottery, the majority in this village seem to be traditionalists who feel that all kinds of bad things 鈥� including crop failures 鈥� would occur if they no longer held it.
This was all very interesting and then one woman starts to speak out strongly against the process when her husband holds the winning ticket. From there, each family member draws a new ticket and only one of them has a mark on it.
From bright to dark to darker and darkest.
For me, this story stands out as a caution; of what can happen when people blindly follow along with an idea or concept because it has always been done that way. It may be called duty or responsibility but it can also be called cowardice and going with the flow because it is the path of least resistance. It can also be called ignorance because no-one is giving thought to consequences, nor how they would feel if they were the ultimate 鈥渨inner鈥�.
This is not an enjoyable read, but for sheer power in the writing and the many thoughts and feelings it evokes, it definitely deserves 5 Stars.
June 1, 2021
I have always wanted to read this classic short story by the great Shirley Jackson. It was originally written in 1948 and contains some disturbing subject matter although subtly done.
I do get, "The Hunger Games" and "The Purge" vibes from it. There's a lot packed into this short story.
You can read it for free at this link and as an added bonus there's an audio to go with it! I thoroughly enjoyed the buildup and anticipation.
I do get, "The Hunger Games" and "The Purge" vibes from it. There's a lot packed into this short story.
You can read it for free at this link and as an added bonus there's an audio to go with it! I thoroughly enjoyed the buildup and anticipation.
July 27, 2019
This seemingly innocuous short story wafted into my consciousness with a halcyon, pastoral scene: an English village on a summer's day, suffused with the scent of blossoming flowers and fresh-cut grass. I could almost taste the cucumber sandwiches and the jam scones.
But there is a sub-level to the seemingly twee storyline. An allegory stealthily unfolds that immediately put me in mind of The Lord of the Flies.
Shirley Jackson's fictitious village, like the island in William Golding's book, seems to serve as a microcosm of life.
Her prose is crisp; the piece is very well written and .
But there is a sub-level to the seemingly twee storyline. An allegory stealthily unfolds that immediately put me in mind of The Lord of the Flies.
Shirley Jackson's fictitious village, like the island in William Golding's book, seems to serve as a microcosm of life.
Her prose is crisp; the piece is very well written and .
May 2, 2019
El cuento es una aut茅ntica maravilla, pero eso ya lo saben todos los que lo han le铆do y 煤nicamente cabe invitar a los dem谩s a que pasen y lean. Pero no es esto lo que ven铆a a decir aqu铆.
El relato lo le铆 en la edici贸n de Cuentos escogidos que public贸 la editorial min煤scula. En este mismo volumen se recoge una conferencia de la autora acerca de la repercusi贸n que tuvo la publicaci贸n del cuento en The New Yorker. Una conferencia tan perturbadora como los relatos, en la que, al mismo tiempo que se nos recuerda aquello de lo que tanto nos avis贸 Carlo M. Cipolla sobre lo mucho que subestimamos la cantidad de est煤pidos que hay en toda 茅poca y lugar, tambi茅n nos se帽ala los niveles de crueldad latente que padece toda sociedad. El cuento parece as铆 extenderse m谩s all谩 de sus p谩ginas cediendo al mundo exterior la escritura de los p谩rrafos finales y dej谩ndonos as铆 un ep铆logo m谩s atroz si cabe que el desenlace del propio relato. Y es que no hay nada m谩s aterrador que saber que estamos rodeados de est煤pidos crueles.
El relato lo le铆 en la edici贸n de Cuentos escogidos que public贸 la editorial min煤scula. En este mismo volumen se recoge una conferencia de la autora acerca de la repercusi贸n que tuvo la publicaci贸n del cuento en The New Yorker. Una conferencia tan perturbadora como los relatos, en la que, al mismo tiempo que se nos recuerda aquello de lo que tanto nos avis贸 Carlo M. Cipolla sobre lo mucho que subestimamos la cantidad de est煤pidos que hay en toda 茅poca y lugar, tambi茅n nos se帽ala los niveles de crueldad latente que padece toda sociedad. El cuento parece as铆 extenderse m谩s all谩 de sus p谩ginas cediendo al mundo exterior la escritura de los p谩rrafos finales y dej谩ndonos as铆 un ep铆logo m谩s atroz si cabe que el desenlace del propio relato. Y es que no hay nada m谩s aterrador que saber que estamos rodeados de est煤pidos crueles.
August 17, 2017
A classic of stoic, gothic horror yet with a twist that leaves the reader thinking.
Like any great short story, this demonstrates the power of that medium by brutal efficiency. Subtle, but the Lottery also reveals Jackson's talent for characterization.
A chilling allegory: there is value in tradition but beware blind faith.
Like any great short story, this demonstrates the power of that medium by brutal efficiency. Subtle, but the Lottery also reveals Jackson's talent for characterization.
A chilling allegory: there is value in tradition but beware blind faith.
March 31, 2024
traumatized
June 27, 2023
What can I possibly even say about this story?
I went on a Twitter deep dive because I am in a reading slump. I decided to Twitter search the reactions to one of the New Yorker's most famous short stories, Cat Person. In so doing I found the story that wagged tongues to that extent before.
The reason for that was because, back in 1948, (and I guess the years bracketing that) The New Yorker published stories without showing whether they were fact or fiction. And my, isn't that an effective way to rouse the indignation of the middle class.
Before Cat Person, this was the story that created the most hubbub and according to thoughtco.com, It has been adapted for radio, theater, television, and even ballet. The Simpsons television show included a reference to the story in its "Dog of Death" episode (season three).
The Lottery is a story set in a small town in America. If that isn't enough to set your heart to dread... have you never seen any Hollywood horror movie? Everything happens in those small towns.
Jackson herself said, "[I wrote this] to shock the story's readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives."
Well then Ms Jackson, mission accomplished.
PPS// The day this story is set, June 27, is my born day. I'm rightfully spooked af.
I went on a Twitter deep dive because I am in a reading slump. I decided to Twitter search the reactions to one of the New Yorker's most famous short stories, Cat Person. In so doing I found the story that wagged tongues to that extent before.
The reason for that was because, back in 1948, (and I guess the years bracketing that) The New Yorker published stories without showing whether they were fact or fiction. And my, isn't that an effective way to rouse the indignation of the middle class.
Before Cat Person, this was the story that created the most hubbub and according to thoughtco.com, It has been adapted for radio, theater, television, and even ballet. The Simpsons television show included a reference to the story in its "Dog of Death" episode (season three).
The Lottery is a story set in a small town in America. If that isn't enough to set your heart to dread... have you never seen any Hollywood horror movie? Everything happens in those small towns.
Jackson herself said, "[I wrote this] to shock the story's readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives."
Well then Ms Jackson, mission accomplished.
PPS// The day this story is set, June 27, is my born day. I'm rightfully spooked af.
September 4, 2020
丕賱賲乇丕噩毓丞 亘賴丕 丨乇賯 賱賱兀丨丿丕孬
-------------
賷亘丿賵 賲卮賴丿丕 毓丕丿賷丕 賱賱睾丕賷丞
賮兀賴賱 賯乇賷丞 氐睾賷乇丞 賯丿 丕賱鬲賮賵丕 賮賷 賷賵賲 丕賱賷丕賳氐賷亘 丕賱爻賳賵賷 丕賱匕賷 賷亘丿賵 卮賷卅丕 賲毓鬲丕丿丕 賵噩丕賱亘丕 賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賮乇丨丞 賵丕賱鬲賵賯毓丕鬲
賵賱賰賳 丕賱兀賲乇 賱賷爻 賰賲丕 賷亘丿賵
賱賷爻 賰賲丕 賷亘丿賵 毓賱賶 丕賱丕胤賱丕賯
丕賱賯乇賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲亘丿賵 賲爻丕賱賲丞 賵賴丕丿卅丞 亘兀胤賮丕賱賴丕 賵賳爻丕卅賴丕 賵乇噩丕賱賴丕
賴賷 賮賷 丨賯賷賯鬲賴丕 賯乇賷丞 賲爻毓賵乇丞
丿賲賵賷丞
賮賴匕丕 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕賱 丕賱爻賳賵賷 賵乇賵鬲賷賳 爻丨亘 丕賱兀賵乇丕賯
賱賷爻 賱賱爻丨亘 毓賱賶 噩丕卅夭丞
廿賳賴 賵賰賲丕 賳賰鬲卮賮 賲毓 丕賱爻胤賵乇 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賱鬲賯丿賷賲 兀囟丨賷丞 賲賳 賳賵毓 賲丕
賮賴賵 賱賷爻 亘胤賯爻 丿賷賳賷
亘賱 丕賱兀賲乇 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 賱賴 爻亘亘丕 爻賵賶 賴匕丕 丕賱鬲毓胤卮 丕賱賵丕囟丨 賱賱丿賲丕亍
賵賴賵 賷亘丿賵 鬲賯賱賷丿丕 乇丕爻锟斤拷丕 賱丿賶 鬲賱賰 丕賱兀爻乇丞 丕賱賯乇賵賷丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞
賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 爻丨亘鬲賳賷 亘賴丕 卮賷乇賱賷 噩丕賰爻賵賳 廿賱賶 賯氐鬲賴丕 爻鬲馗賱 賱賱兀亘丿 賮賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賷
賮亘賷賳賲丕 兀賳丕 兀鬲丕亘毓 賯氐丞 毓丕丿賷丞 兀賵 鬲亘丿賵 賰匕賱賰
兀噩丿賳賷 兀氐賮毓 丨乇賮賷丕 亘丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱賲賮丕噩卅丞 丕賱亘卮毓丞
賵兀馗賱 賮丕睾乇丞 賮丕賴賷 賲乇丿丿丞 賲爻鬲丨賷賱 賱賮鬲乇丞 賱賷爻鬲 亘丕賱賯賱賷賱丞
賱賯丿 賰鬲亘鬲 賯氐丞 禺賱丿鬲 賮賷 鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱兀丿亘 賰賵丕丨丿丞 賲賳 兀睾乇亘 賵兀毓噩亘 丕賱賯氐氐 賵兀賰孬乇賴丕 丨賳賰丞 賰匕賱賰
兀乇卮丨賴丕 賱賱噩賲賷毓
October 30, 2024
A short yet powerful exploration of human nature and the dangers of clinging to traditions without critical thought or compassion. Absolutely chilling.
*updated my rating from 4 to 5 stars because this story has stayed with me for years! I think about it all the time.
*updated my rating from 4 to 5 stars because this story has stayed with me for years! I think about it all the time.
June 16, 2023
Happy 75th birthday to this story. Still packing as strong a punch as it did back in '48.
June 4, 2021
I鈥檝e got a thing for Shirley Jackson, it鈥檚 all a bit new, a bit exciting, some may say infatuated BUT after reading and really enjoying 鈥楲ife Among the Savages鈥� and now being enthralled by her short story The Lottery I am really liking this author (yes, new to me) in a big way.
This short story is a mysterious piece which culminates in an ending which was totally unexpected.
The residents of a small country town take part in an annual 鈥淟ottery鈥�. This involves a representative from each family drawing a paper from a box, the 鈥榳inner鈥� is the one who draws one with a black dot. The members of the 鈥榳inning鈥� family then re-draw with one of them becoming the ultimate winner by drawing the piece with the black dot.
The writing is kind of light and breezy, almost surreal. A bunch of rural punters exchanging banter, kids playing and everyone being as they congregate in the square for the drawing of the 鈥淟ottery鈥�.
But there is a very dark undertone throughout, for me this manifested in a feeling of unease, but I didn鈥檛 really know why, the writing is such that Jackson puts us somewhere we don鈥檛 expect, nor want to go. But I was there and suddenly, I was smacked in the mush 鈥� and left sitting on my butt, stunned.
There鈥檚 a real sense of quiet terror here, with a bunch of people, following an age-old tradition no matter what the cost. The theme of conforming, and following the mob is also apparent here 鈥� I am sure Jackson has countless other themes running through this nasty little piece 鈥� I am very much looking forward to learning more about this piece.
I will have to leave it at that. I loved this story, it鈥檚 such a powerful piece.
It can be found here: in the New Yorker (audio too).
5 Stars5>
This short story is a mysterious piece which culminates in an ending which was totally unexpected.
The residents of a small country town take part in an annual 鈥淟ottery鈥�. This involves a representative from each family drawing a paper from a box, the 鈥榳inner鈥� is the one who draws one with a black dot. The members of the 鈥榳inning鈥� family then re-draw with one of them becoming the ultimate winner by drawing the piece with the black dot.
The writing is kind of light and breezy, almost surreal. A bunch of rural punters exchanging banter, kids playing and everyone being as they congregate in the square for the drawing of the 鈥淟ottery鈥�.
But there is a very dark undertone throughout, for me this manifested in a feeling of unease, but I didn鈥檛 really know why, the writing is such that Jackson puts us somewhere we don鈥檛 expect, nor want to go. But I was there and suddenly, I was smacked in the mush 鈥� and left sitting on my butt, stunned.
There鈥檚 a real sense of quiet terror here, with a bunch of people, following an age-old tradition no matter what the cost. The theme of conforming, and following the mob is also apparent here 鈥� I am sure Jackson has countless other themes running through this nasty little piece 鈥� I am very much looking forward to learning more about this piece.
I will have to leave it at that. I loved this story, it鈥檚 such a powerful piece.
It can be found here: in the New Yorker (audio too).
5 Stars5>
November 13, 2017
"It isn't fair"
Brilliant. While reading this I wondered if this little short piece of works was the inspiration for the Hunger Games and I see that I am not alone in this thinking as other reviewers have said the same thing as well.
For such a short story she sure packed in the suspense and feeling of dread. The anxiety of having to draw and be the one with the black dot on your paper.
Brilliant. While reading this I wondered if this little short piece of works was the inspiration for the Hunger Games and I see that I am not alone in this thinking as other reviewers have said the same thing as well.
For such a short story she sure packed in the suspense and feeling of dread. The anxiety of having to draw and be the one with the black dot on your paper.
March 19, 2023
I'm shocked.
That was very disturbing and dark in the end, didn't notice it was coming. For me, this story showed people blindly follow along with an old idea or harmful tradition because it always has been done that way, so they have the right to think to continue doing this with passion. I think it was smart and very sarcastic that Jackson chose a woman as the winner at the end who spoke out strongly in defense of her husband.
賲丕 賴賲蹖卮賴 賯賱毓賴鈥� 賳卮蹖賳丕賳 猸�10
噩丕丿賵诏乇 猸� 9
趩丕乇賱夭 猸�8.5
丿賳丿丕賳 猸�8.5
鬲爻禺蹖乇 毓賲丕乇鬲 賴蹖賱 猸�
8猸�
7.5猸�
爻丕毓鬲 丌賮鬲丕亘蹖 猸�6.5
to-read
That was very disturbing and dark in the end, didn't notice it was coming. For me, this story showed people blindly follow along with an old idea or harmful tradition because it always has been done that way, so they have the right to think to continue doing this with passion. I think it was smart and very sarcastic that Jackson chose a woman as the winner at the end who spoke out strongly in defense of her husband.
賲丕 賴賲蹖卮賴 賯賱毓賴鈥� 賳卮蹖賳丕賳 猸�10
噩丕丿賵诏乇 猸� 9
趩丕乇賱夭 猸�8.5
丿賳丿丕賳 猸�8.5
鬲爻禺蹖乇 毓賲丕乇鬲 賴蹖賱 猸�
8猸�
7.5猸�
爻丕毓鬲 丌賮鬲丕亘蹖 猸�6.5
to-read
May 18, 2021
A short and suspenseful cautionary tale demonstrating that observing traditions is not always a pleasant and favorable affair. Not as shocking as some modern day literary offerings, but it packs a lot of punch for such a short story.
October 19, 2021
Listened on Youtube.
November 8, 2021
Me sigue fascinando tanto como la primera vez. Incluso, me ha encantado much铆simo m谩s que antes.
Un cuento breve que deja sorprendido con el nivel de turbiedad que tiene. Es simplemente siniestro y escalofriante. Lo grandioso es que desde el inicio est谩n las pistas (arma Ch茅jov) sin que te lo esperes. Y con una relectura logra uno dar y conectar los detalles, simplemente impresionante. Lo am茅 y espero encontrar una lectura as铆 de sorprendente en alguna novela de Shirley Jackson. De verdad lo necesito.
Un cuento breve que deja sorprendido con el nivel de turbiedad que tiene. Es simplemente siniestro y escalofriante. Lo grandioso es que desde el inicio est谩n las pistas (arma Ch茅jov) sin que te lo esperes. Y con una relectura logra uno dar y conectar los detalles, simplemente impresionante. Lo am茅 y espero encontrar una lectura as铆 de sorprendente en alguna novela de Shirley Jackson. De verdad lo necesito.
December 23, 2015
Really hackneyed dystopian story that has been written a thousand times.
So the story is chilling ,yes, but only in a gust of a cold breeze kind of way. Like you've felt it before...
Read August 2013.
review rewritten 23 December 2015)
So the story is chilling ,yes, but only in a gust of a cold breeze kind of way. Like you've felt it before...
Read August 2013.
review rewritten 23 December 2015)
October 31, 2018
Perturbador, siniestro, genial.
January 21, 2025
鈥淚t isn't fair, it isn't right,"
鈥� Shirley Jackson, The Lottery
My dad just watched this for the first time today.
For me, my first experience with The Lottery, came in High school. I never forgot it.
There are a rare few books out there I will not review. What could I possibly say to do them justice? What could I possibly say that millions before me have not already said?
This is one of the. It never left me. It embedded itself into my soul at such a young age. The horror-not in the classical "horror" sense. It was more a horror in the way it changes you. It changes one's perception of the world. It wraps itself inside you.
I left the room today as my dad watched it. I was not in the mood to rewatch. I listened though. I listened to the horror. I was transported way back, to the halls of my school and the nondescript classroom where I sat, impatient to get out of class as the teacher lowered the lighting and the film began to play.
It will not leave you untouched I don't think.
And now, decades later, my dad watched in horror. He had many questions for me. It had been so long--I could not answer all of them.
I will read more about others' reactions to this story. I rediscovered it and I am not sure how to feel about that. I know it will linger in the shadows of my mind as I sleep tonight.
Five stars.
鈥� Shirley Jackson, The Lottery
My dad just watched this for the first time today.
For me, my first experience with The Lottery, came in High school. I never forgot it.
There are a rare few books out there I will not review. What could I possibly say to do them justice? What could I possibly say that millions before me have not already said?
This is one of the. It never left me. It embedded itself into my soul at such a young age. The horror-not in the classical "horror" sense. It was more a horror in the way it changes you. It changes one's perception of the world. It wraps itself inside you.
I left the room today as my dad watched it. I was not in the mood to rewatch. I listened though. I listened to the horror. I was transported way back, to the halls of my school and the nondescript classroom where I sat, impatient to get out of class as the teacher lowered the lighting and the film began to play.
It will not leave you untouched I don't think.
And now, decades later, my dad watched in horror. He had many questions for me. It had been so long--I could not answer all of them.
I will read more about others' reactions to this story. I rediscovered it and I am not sure how to feel about that. I know it will linger in the shadows of my mind as I sleep tonight.
Five stars.
Read
October 10, 2010How do you rate something that keeps you from sleeping?
I know that I thought it was brilliantly done; Jackson set the tone so well. She paints a bright, cheerful picture to start. It's a beautiful sunny day and the whole town is gathering, like for a town picnic. They're drawing for something, you think, I wonder what that is.
It's not until the 5th last paragraph that Jackson pulls the rug out from under your feet - and so quickly that I had to re-read the pivotal line about three times before I realized what was happening. When I did I was horrified.
It made me uncomfortable, gave me a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I didn't sleep well for days afterward. It was powerful, it was terrifying, but I'm not sure whether I liked it or not.
(And I can't believe they have kids read this story in high school).
I know that I thought it was brilliantly done; Jackson set the tone so well. She paints a bright, cheerful picture to start. It's a beautiful sunny day and the whole town is gathering, like for a town picnic. They're drawing for something, you think, I wonder what that is.
It's not until the 5th last paragraph that Jackson pulls the rug out from under your feet - and so quickly that I had to re-read the pivotal line about three times before I realized what was happening. When I did I was horrified.
It made me uncomfortable, gave me a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I didn't sleep well for days afterward. It was powerful, it was terrifying, but I'm not sure whether I liked it or not.
(And I can't believe they have kids read this story in high school).
September 29, 2024
Everyone should read this short story once in a lifetime. I read it in school and just finished my second reading. Of course, it had to have been better read the first time and as a teenager, but it certainly shows the dark side of Shirley Jackson. It was published in a magazine and earned her hate mail for the rest of her life. I鈥檓 about to put a sunnier book of hers in my queue and thought this would give some balance. Yes, she also wrote cute stories for magazines about her family living in North Bennington, VT.
February 16, 2021
丿乇 賮乇賴賳诏 讴賵乇丿蹖 "賯诘丕 亘丕夭诘賴" 蹖丕 "賴賴鈥屭蒂�" 丕卮丕乇賴 丿丕乇丿 亘賴 倬乇賳丿賴鈥屫й� 讴賴 丿乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 讴賴賳 賵 丕賮爻丕賳賴鈥屫й� 賳賲丕丿 丕賳鬲禺丕亘鈥屬囏й� 鬲氐丕丿賮蹖 丕爻鬲. 诏乇賵賴蹖 丕夭 賲乇丿賲 讴賴 丿乇 亘蹖賳 丌賳鈥屬囏� 亘夭乇诏丕賳 禺賵卮鈥屬嗀篡屬� 賴賲 丨囟賵乇 丿丕乇賳丿 丿乇 賲蹖丿丕賳 丕氐賱蹖 卮賴乇 噩賲毓 賲蹖鈥屫促堎嗀� 倬乇賳丿賴 乇丕 丕丨囟丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵 丌賳鈥屭з� 丌賳鈥屬傌� 賲蹖鈥屭嗀必� 賵 賲蹖鈥屭嗀必� 鬲丕 亘丕賱丕禺乇賴 乇賵蹖 卮丕賳賴鈥屰� 讴爻蹖 賲蹖鈥屬嗀篡屬嗀� 賵 丌賳 卮禺氐 亘賴 賲賯丕賲蹖 亘夭乇诏 賲蹖鈥屫必池�. 卮讴賱蹖 丕夭 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 讴賴 賲乇丿賲 丌賳 乇丕 賲胤賱賯丕 亘賴 倬乇賳丿賴 賵丕诏匕丕乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀�. 丨鬲蹖 丿乇 亘毓囟蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏� 賵賯鬲蹖 倬丕丿卮丕賴 賲蹖鈥屬呟屫必� 倬乇賳丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 蹖讴 賮乇丿 丨丕卮蹖賴鈥屬嗀篡屬� 乇丕 亘賴 賲賯丕賲 倬丕丿卮丕賴蹖 賴賲 亘乇爻丕賳丿.
"亘賴乇賵夭 亘賵趩丕賳蹖"
丕賮爻賵爻 讴賴 丕蹖賳 丕賮爻丕賳賴鈥屸€屰� 夭蹖亘丕蹖 卮乇賯蹖 賮賯胤 丿乇 賲賲丕賱讴 睾乇亘 乇禺 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 賵 賲丕 丕夭 丌賳 亘蹖鈥屬嗀帝屫ㄛ屬�. 爻賴賲 賲丕 丕夭 丕賮爻丕賳賴鈥屬囏ж� 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賽 睾乇亘蹖 丕爻鬲 亘賴 賳丕賲 賱丕鬲丕乇蹖
August 2, 2020
Old traditions die hard.
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