Horror Short Stories: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

 

Fresh warmth of a full-summer day. Blossoming flowers. Rich green grass.

The opening of the story places you in the middle of a town, a long time ago, when things were simple when there was harmony and community. Or so you would expect.

The picturesque opening of the story waylays the reader into believing they are reading a story about just another pleasant day in a town when people loved to gather for some occasion or another and simply have a lovely time together.

But then you realize you are reading a short story by Shirley Jackson, a writer known to excel in the horror genre. Clearly, something is afoot.

And that is when you notice the clues.

Men are smiling rather than laughing. Quiet jokes are being made. There is some hesitation to touch the black box which contains the slips of paper with the names of the head of the households. People greet each other gravely.

Something is wrong, you would think. And it is when Tessie, one of the characters, declares that their family name being called is unfair, that you realize this isn't an ordinary lottery.

More clues are thrown in. The surrounding towns are doing away with the lottery. The people of this town think they must keep traditions, even if it means retaining the same black box over the years even though it is getting shabbier.

And then there's the pile of smooth stones the boys have collected and kept in the corner. Nobody wants to stand next to it, not yet.

Is it for a game of five stones, perhaps? Are they going to build something for a game? Nope. The stones are collected for a far more nefarious deed.

The names are called. Tessie is shocked when her family's name is called. She argues but is told to shut up by her own husband.

Another draw takes place. This time Tessie and her family must pick the slips.

Tessie, being the most prominent character in the story so far, is the one who picked the slip with the black dot. She is deathly silent.

And that is when we find out what the stones are for.

There have been stories about people offering sacrifices so that they can have a good harvest every year. Most horror movies certainly have played around with that plot. Some people used to believe it was better to spill the blood of one innocent rather than have hundreds die of starvation and so devised and conducted these maleficent rituals.

The Lottery is something like that. People are ready to stone an innocent because according to them, the crops will be better. This is evident when it is casually remarked, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon."

The people of this town are clearly excited for this event, although anxious not to be the ones whose name will be called. But it is tradition after all.

And so when Tessie's name is called, her own family turns against her too, even as she screams it is unfair.

The last scene is what will leave you rattled at the unnecessary violence depicted in the story. These townsfolk may believe in tradition but are clearly not compassionate about each other.