Short Story
In the story, “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson, the only point of view used by the author is the dramatic or objective point of view. In this point of view, the narrator is an unidentified speaker who reports things in great detail, even though the narrator does not play a role in the story. By using such point of view, Jackson builds an aura of uncertainty that endures until the dramatic ending of the story.
From the beginning of the story, the knowledge about the lottery is revealed only by the characters themselves. The characters do not mention the details of the lottery; most of them just express their dislike for it, especially because they have to stop what they are doing to participate in the lottery. As the story progresses, not much changes regarding the knowledge about the lottery. People are waiting for their turn to draw from the black box. The state of uncertainty created by the lack of knowledge about the lottery is truly the main driver of the action. It is almost irritating not to know where the story is going. Yet, one wants to keep reading to eventually figure out what the lottery really is. Because there is a certainty that the end will bring the answers to all of the questions formulated throughout the story, one is inclined to submerge oneself deeper into the story and to try to figure out what will eventually happen.
Therefore, it is predictable that an important ending will occur, which will bring with it an event that will clear up the entire story. Jackson accomplishes both objectives by giving the reader with a twist that not
everyone would have expected. What at first seems to be a boring and simple tradition quickly transforms into an act of savagery. When the crowd stones Mrs. Hutchinson, it is almost as if all of the possible ideas about the lottery that one has imagined up to that point are violently struck down. Moreover, the end of this story is dramatic because it goes against the common belief of the peace and order
From the beginning of the story, the knowledge about the lottery is revealed only by the characters themselves. The characters do not mention the details of the lottery; most of them just express their dislike for it, especially because they have to stop what they are doing to participate in the lottery. As the story progresses, not much changes regarding the knowledge about the lottery. People are waiting for their turn to draw from the black box. The state of uncertainty created by the lack of knowledge about the lottery is truly the main driver of the action. It is almost irritating not to know where the story is going. Yet, one wants to keep reading to eventually figure out what the lottery really is. Because there is a certainty that the end will bring the answers to all of the questions formulated throughout the story, one is inclined to submerge oneself deeper into the story and to try to figure out what will eventually happen.
Therefore, it is predictable that an important ending will occur, which will bring with it an event that will clear up the entire story. Jackson accomplishes both objectives by giving the reader with a twist that not
everyone would have expected. What at first seems to be a boring and simple tradition quickly transforms into an act of savagery. When the crowd stones Mrs. Hutchinson, it is almost as if all of the possible ideas about the lottery that one has imagined up to that point are violently struck down. Moreover, the end of this story is dramatic because it goes against the common belief of the peace and order