After reading Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery", a view on humanity was opened to me that I never gave too much thought to before. ... Jackson uses this story as a reflection of our human society. ... Jackson's story also emphasizes how we must face consequences in our society. ...In my opinion, this story is a way to demonstrate how everyone has a weakness inside them, but more significantly, an underlying evil. Even today, people follow what is done by others, and not what they truly believe in. In a way, depending on the ending, it is truly evil.
I find this story to be startling and eye-opening because it shows the reader (after having to do some thinking) that standing up for what you believe in is paramount and can mean the difference between good and evil.
One of the most disturbing element of Jackson's story is its presence of the tyranny of the majority. Certainly, this must have caused some level of controversy when it was first released. The idea of a docile and tranquil community suddenly giving way to the most savage of "traditions" is jarring to any reader. This reflects something more sinister and lurking underneath the veneer of civilized society. Another element that is quite startling is the reflection of how individuals can abandon one another in times of crisis. When the town turns on its intended victim, one truly grasps the terror and unspeakable cruelty of social orders. Within the story would help to illuminate moments in history where the worst of human nature was revealed.