The Lottery and Its Undertones
Lottery is a form of gambling where people pay a small amount to have the chance of winning a large sum of money. It is often run by government agencies and helps contribute to a wide range of public services. While it is a popular pastime for many, the chances of winning are extremely low and the cost of playing can be expensive. In the United States, lottery revenues are a key component of state and local budgets. Mega-sized jackpots and out-of-the-blue scratch ticket miracles are regularly featured in the news, driving lottery sales.
There is something inextricably human about lotteries. In a world of growing inequality and limited social mobility, there is a powerful sense that winning the lottery, no matter how improbable, could be your last, best or only chance for a new life. And despite the fact that odds are long, people buy lottery tickets anyway.
In The Lottery, Shirley Jackson demonstrates that a lottery has many undertones. First, she criticizes the way that the villagers in her story treat one another. She points out that they do not show Tessie any sympathy. The villagers also show her that they believe in tradition. Old Man Warner tells her that they used to have a saying that if you win the lottery in June, corn will be heavy soon.
The other undertone is that the lottery is a form of taxation. A portion of the total prize pool is taken by the organizers for organizing and promoting the lottery. The remaining percentage goes to the winners. This amount can be quite significant, especially in the case of large prizes such as cars or homes.
Lottery is a form of gambling where people pay a small amount to have the chance of winning a large sum of money. It is often run by government agencies and helps contribute to a wide range of public services. While it is a popular pastime for many, the chances of winning are extremely low…