Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” has focused on the betrayal that communities have when dealing with high risk situations such as this one. Throughout the story, the citizens of the town have less trust while each paper is being drawn. Few people have as much faith in the other person as they should. No person wanted the paper with the black dot on it, but someone had to get it.
Personally, I think that Jackson was trying to say that there is always someone to blame throughout the course of life. There is always that one person who will get that black dot and have to face the harsh treatments of being stoned. Not everyone can receive the benefit of being in the clear.
The modern comment that Jackson was trying to emit is that tradition must be upheld. Modern society has been used to the same routines occurring throughout history, but fear change. When wives were going to pick the paper for their husbands, citizens shouted out with outrage against the idea. They thought that it was unfair and that this change was just no good. Fear of change and upholding traditions coincide with one another. However, Jackson is trying to point out that there is no balance between the two. We must find out what we can do to create that balance.
