~ Shirley Jackson
...continued...
What is the relationship between Mr. Summers (wealthiest) and the lottery?
� In his best interest because the lottery is controlled by him
� Will never be picked
� They are in control
� Law that controls behaviour
� Kids are not picked because they have the most potential for labour
*McCarthyism � hate of communism and fear of it
� �it had a black spot on it��
o coal is black
o the spot is black
o made in his office
Evil of the Lottery
1) rigid social hierarchy based upon inequitable division of labour
� will always stay the same
2) everybody participates => aura of democracy
� however, it is still the interests of the elite which are served
3) commitment to a work ethic will magically grant them immunity from selection
4) commitment to work hides true purpose of the ineuquitable division of labour
5) personal dissatisfaction is aimed at the victim
� if you are picked, you must be a terrible person
Rules of Participation
� Those who control the village economically and politically control the lottery as well
� Power in the village is exclusively consolidated into the hands of the male heads of families (women are disenfranchised)
*Disenfranchised = have no social will
Heads of family > Heads of households > Members > Women
� Women don�t play a part until the very end
� Faded housedresses
� Walk behind their men
� Other men address Tessie�s husband, not her directly, as if she doesn�t have an identity
� Lottery reinforces the village�s work ethic
� May have been a planting ritual at one time
� Old Warner is the most proud one of all
� Work means survival
� Those who promote the lottery may be safe from the lottery
BOX: faded, stained
� Work to the village is all important
o Part goes to supporting the leisure of the powerful people
o Women are the only ones to ask �Who�s got it?�
� �Dunbar?� (broke his leg)
� �Watsons?� (dead)
� �Tessie�s faux pas� (mistake/oops)
o unconsciously rebels
o Rain, the question� �Did she even finish her work�
o late arrival throws resistance to lottery
o �clean forgot what day it was�
o violates specific job
� �would you have me leave me dishes in the sink now would ye Joe�
o reverses the power between husbands and wives
� �Get up there Bill�
� Tessie breaks tradition by wanting to get Don and Eva to take their chance
� Objects to her selection �It isn�t fair�
� Lottery represses the impulse to rebel
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