“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is saturated with the use of symbolism. Symbolism is practiced to represent something else. It helps build meaning and feeling in a story by causing the reader to make connections between the literary piece and the real world. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find the basic connotation that the author is trying to convey. The symbols can be very unmistakable or cruelly conceptual, which makes the audience broaden the horizons of their mind. Each icon identified in "The Lottery" can be interpreted as representing different things. As a result, there are at least three different categories of symbols used by Jackson in this story alone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Taking the lottery itself as an example, there are at least two distinctive points of view that can be represented by this object. First, it could convey the concept of government corruption. Within this story, the lottery is clearly premeditated. There are guidelines and expectations that must be respected at all costs, just as we currently find in government. Every day, week, and year Americans are forced to complete, vote on, and undertake tasks that go against their core beliefs for the good of government and its officials. Out of fear of opposing the status quo, more and more laws and regulations are being formed which, in turn, corrupt the nation. This relates to the theme of being forced to do heinous things because higher authorities come where you are required to carry them out. Immediately this could be related to the movie The Purge. Mass anarchy is widespread across the country because crime has been legalized. Who said it was okay? Only government officials, but they were offered protection just as Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves were in the story. They had power within their community and did not have to participate in it; they got immunity! No person, despite their fake facade, would choose to participate in the lottery under normal circumstances. However, because these people were involuntarily pushed to support this occasion, they formed a mental barrier that prepared themselves to consider it acceptable and ordinary to engage in this type of torment. The higher-ups were looking out for their best interests, right? They were brainwashed! It became clear that this barricade could be broken down and put someone in danger. When Mrs. Hutchinson was faced with danger, she immediately began to blame others and gave up on the lottery altogether. Her husband's response was for her to keep quiet. He continued to follow the proposals because it was what needed to be done. The administration told him he had to, so he, without hesitation, did his part even when things got tough. The next element that could be traced back to being symbolized by the lottery is community traditions. The individuals who inhabit this village become blind to the evil ritual taking place right under their noses. When the annual lottery date arrives, people enter numbly because of what is expected of them and what they are used to. No reactions, contemplations, emotions, etc. is exhibited by these people. They modestly put their daily lives on hold to pay attention to the wrath of the lottery. Don't they see the evil in their actions? How is it possible to get used to something so horrible? One might think that this is only usual for this settlement; however, the lottery is held in the surrounding villages.Some even resume the ceremonious custom by testifying that nearby places, which exonerated the accident, were careless in doing so. In the end, a man justifies the event by stating, “There has always been a lottery.” Just because something has always taken the place makes it right? Why doesn't someone stand up for what they know is right? Are mistakes made right over time? “Everyone does it, so we can't be excluded or look different,” you can almost hear them whisper. It is what is familiar; it is what was expected. It is necessary to evaluate the morals of the traditions we follow while analyzing Jackson's work. Related to this notion is the theme of blindly following tradition. Did people know why they were entering the lottery? There was even a reference made by a character that led you to believe he didn't know where, when or why the lottery started. Yet no one questioned this suspicious act! There is no reason why the lottery should still be in practice. They continue to have it because they always have. It seems that the lottery is the foundation of this city. This becomes their justification for their actions. They don't want to be wrong, so they don't question motives and don't blame everything on tradition. These two views of symbolism are both related to the use of an object's symbolism in the story. Many other times, Jackson uses objects to connect themes and express feelings about the contexts of his story. Issues like this include things like the black box. These story artifacts are meticulously established to contribute to the story's themes. They are all united in a section of the world that causes the reader to draw conclusions, questions and associations. The black box symbolizes the country's corrupt laws and the misrepresented relationship people have with them. The color brings an ominous mood to the reader. After assessing the situation, one can come to the conclusion that the fate of the city is in the box. In it reside the slips of paper that reveal someone's fate. If the lottery is the government, then the box must be the decrees. It is a lottery rule, and tradition, that this box is used. Just as the government puts regulations in place to suit its agenda, the box is used to carry out the lottery's agenda. Without the box a sense of control and regulation would not be recognized. If the lottery represented traditions, the box would denote people's values. It is mentioned in the story that the box was starting to wither. With each passing year, the box has more and more splinters. This is related to the fact that people's values ​​were “shattered” for the sake of the lottery. With each passing year, people allow more and more perversions to enter their lives. Not only can you use objects as symbols, but you can also effectively contribute to a piece by using characters as similar tools. The characters of the Delacroix family, for example, denote the church. Their name, literally, means cross that brings religious thoughts into the mix of Jackson's writings. Appearing time and time again, this family is everyone's friend, it seems. They are mixed in with the rest of the community, yet they follow the traditions and customs established by officials even when their friends are put at risk. “Are they real friends?” you might ask. This leads to the connection that the church can be imagined as a haven occupied by positivity for the community, but can become harmful due to external immorality. In this case corruption was disguised as tradition. Ironic, due to the fact that traditions are usually featsirreproachable that transmit joy to all those who experience them. Perhaps you could find the representation of death in Mr. Graves. He is the leader of the extravagant event. It has no significant role in this story, but, like real death, it presides over people, lurking in the background looking for whom it can devour. Within his town he has the power of postmaster and uses that power to give authority to Mr. Summers to conduct the lottery. This relates to the theme that is society dumping its sins on someone who bears all the consequences. Society distances itself from its own misdeeds and always looks for a scapegoat. In the story, this ends up being Tessie Hutchinson. He finally meets his fate. Mr. Graves could be held responsible for this poor outcome because without him he would not have been given the proper authority. Without him, there would be no death! As hard as it may be to believe, there is actually another type of symbol that can be identified; numbers can be used to indicate a deeper meaning. The stool on which the black box of tragedy is placed has three legs. Since the box is a representation of death and darkness, the three legs could each be a part of the Christian theory of the Divine Trinity. This concept applies to being three in one. This can be understood as the crown of the stool that joins each leg. Once again, Jackson uses his symbolism as a key to understanding religion. One leg would be seen as the Father while the other two dragged as the Son and the Holy Spirit. If we believed in God, we would know that the Trinity encompasses all the supremacy of the earth. Everything is in his hands. This can be re-established as the way the stool supports the vital component of the lottery, the black box. Additionally, Luck is brought to attention when Old Man Warner expresses his age. He has reached the ripe old age of seventy-seven. Most people understand that good luck is associated with the number seven. Throughout American civilization and tradition, seven is complementary to being the luckiest of all numbers. Because of this detail, one can often spot the seven depicted with four leaf clovers around St. Patrick's Day. In the story, not just a seven is declared but two. This instantly doubles the size of the blessing Old Man Warner has. Furthermore, he enthusiastically confesses that he was lucky in the draw. The odds have been in his favor over the years. He was able to grow to a mature age without ever being affected by the lottery. This underlines the kind of luck this man has. He was lucky not to reap the consequences of such a horrible event. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Optimistically speaking, you are now readily able to spot the different styles of symbols that can be unmasked in the course of a story. Likewise, be vulnerable to the various alternatives of what each thing might represent. As long as the verification in the text can support the opinions, no one should be anxious to express what they sincerely feel is being indicated. Jackson used objects, characters, and numbers to initiate internal reactions and shape a deeper essence of his story. They each give significant weight to the themes exposed in their work and use their symbols to reveal religious, governmental and community issues present in society. No one distinguishes what might have been Jackson's motivation for writing this piece, but it is easy to sense that he aspired to bring to light the tribulations he..