The Lottery takes place on a beautiful summer day in a small town. Although the location of the town is never given, it appears to be in a rural community. The story begins as a regular summer day, but has a surprising ending. In the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson (213-19), there are three symbols Old Man Warner, the black box, and the characters names.


Old Man Warner symbolisms tradition in the story and Shirley Jackson uses him to show how long a lottery has been in around in the village. “Old Man Warner, the only one who seems to recall the seriousness of the occasion, complains that Mr. Summers jokes with everybody” (Griffin 45). The villagers have all lost sight of the true meaning and why the lottery was started. "They do focus, however, on its gruesome rather than its symbolic nature, for they "still remember to use stones" even after they have "forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box." (Griffin 45). This shows that the villagers now do the lottery because it has become a tradition. Although it is not strange for people to lose sight of a meaning or a tradition Shirley Jackson shows how dangerous it can become. In society today there are traditions that have been handed down from generation to generations, but nobody knows the meanings anymore. One example is the African-American tradition of Jumping the Broom. The tradition dates back to before the Civil War, when slaves were not permitted to marry. Couples would jump over a broom in front of family and friends as their way of solidifying their relationship as a married couple. Many people still do the jumping of the broom in their wedding today; however, only a few know the meaning that lies behind it. "Although civilized people may no longer hold lotteries, Jackson's story illustrates that society tendency toward violence and its tendency to hold onto tradition, even meaningless, basic tradition, reveals our need for both ritual and belonging."(Griffin 46). As long as some traditions have been going I see no end to them in future, and as long as a person wants to be associate with a kind of crowd there with will always be some traditions. However, it is best to know the meaning of this ethnicity before a person practice.

In “The Lottery” black box represents death. The original black box is what is use to hold the paper the men pull from. The original box was built by the first set of the villagers. The box now is not even completely black; it has been repaired several times over the years.

symbolisms <~~ is NOT a verb

That 2nd paragraph needs to be more than one paragraph.

It's unfinished.

It would help greatly if we knew what your assignment is.

To understand the symbolism of the black box in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, you need to analyze the text and consider the context. The black box represents death because it is used to hold the pieces of paper with the villagers' names on them, which ultimately determines who will be chosen for the lottery and, ultimately, their death.

In the story, it is mentioned that the original black box was made from pieces of the first village's lottery box. This suggests that the tradition of the lottery has been going on for a long time and has become ingrained in the community's history. The fact that the box has been repaired multiple times over the years also indicates how long this tradition has been upheld.

The color black itself is often associated with death and mourning, so the choice of a black box adds to the symbolism. It represents the dark and somber nature of the lottery and the ominous outcome that awaits the chosen person.

Additionally, the black box represents the villagers' blind adherence to tradition. Despite its worn-out condition, they continue to use it without question. This highlights how people can become so accustomed to a tradition that they overlook its true meaning or consequences.

Just like with Old Man Warner's character, the black box serves as a reminder of the villagers' misguided attachment to rituals without understanding their purpose. It also raises questions about the dangers of blindly following traditions, especially when they involve harm or violence.

In conclusion, the black box in "The Lottery" symbolizes death, the villagers' adherence to tradition, and the dangers of blindly following rituals without questioning their true meaning. It serves as a powerful symbol throughout the story, emphasizing the shocking and brutal ending.