NationStates Jolt Archive

So, in the book "The Lottery", why is it, before they have the annual lottery, no one just leaves.

I'd be like, fuck that... June 26, I think its a good time to leave.

Or why is that the cops don't find out?

Or if I'd be chosen, i'd run to my automobile and drive away

Or if they gang up on me I'd have a gun and shoot them.

What about the news, no one could hide that, what if the stoning ends up on youtube?

I know this was written in the fourties but that cannot happen in America now... nor back then either (if you were white)

So, in the book "The Lottery", why is it, before they have the annual lottery, no one just leaves.

I'd be like, fuck that... June 26, I think its a good time to leave.

Or why is that the cops don't find out?

Or if I'd be chosen, i'd run to my automobile and drive away

Or if they gang up on me I'd have a gun and shoot them.

What about the news, no one could hide that, what if the stoning ends up on youtube?

I know this was written in the fourties but that cannot happen in America now... nor back then either (if you were white)

1) It's not a book, it's a short story by Shirley Jackson.

2) What makes you think the cops don't know? The whole point of it is that it is a widely accepted tradition in the world in which it happens.

3) The point of the story is that it is a tradition that is so deeply ingrained no one really thinks to rebel against it -- except of course Tessie Hutchinson, because it's HER neck on the line.

4) In that world, no one cares. It is the status quo. It's like people grilling for 4th of July. They might view the stoning the same way we view hunting videos or baseball games -- "Oh, nice technique on that throw!"

5) Why bring race into it? Race had nothing to do with the story -- just human sacrifice.

6) The point of the the stoning was that a human sacrifice was necessary in their culture in order to make sure the crop was a success -- which was an idea that was common in many early cultures. What makes this story a horror story is the fact that it's happening in modern times -- not among some primitive culture we can feel superior to. It's also a commentary on how we all flow along our cultural traditions mindlessly without giving much thought to whether or not they're actually GOOD traditions. (Like, soccer hooliganism).

I know, but its in an isolated small town in America... the Federal Marshals, the FBI, State Police... someone would know, and some random journalist won't find out...

I know, suspension of disbelief... but it makes me wonder.

Its a short story, I bought it in book form.

I know, but its in an isolated small town in America... the Federal Marshals, the FBI, State Police... someone would know, and some random journalist won't find out...

I know, suspension of disbelief... but it makes me wonder.

Its a short story, I bought it in book form.
The point was that EVERYONE knew and EVERYONE was doing it.

In the culture in the story, this would be no different than a hay ride or a harvest festival.

That was the twist that made things so shocking.

I know, but its in an isolated small town in America... the Federal Marshals, the FBI, State Police... someone would know, and some random journalist won't find out...

I know, suspension of disbelief... but it makes me wonder.

Its a short story, I bought it in book form.

Exactly, isolated small town America. You think they'd just announce too passers-by that they choose someone to die randomly every year? They'd probably be pretty hostile towards outsiders. Like a lot of small communities, even ones that don't practice human sacrifice.

I know, but its in an isolated small town in America... the Federal Marshals, the FBI, State Police... someone would know, and some random journalist won't find out...

I know, suspension of disbelief... but it makes me wonder.

Its a short story, I bought it in book form.

http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lotry.html

Take another look. They mention in it that some other towns were thinking about not having the lottery -- therefore, it is not something that only happens in this one isolated small town....

http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lotry.html

Take another look. They mention in it that some other towns were thinking about not having the lottery -- therefore, it is not something that only happens in this one isolated small town....

Also, at the start there's mention that "in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days". That's a good indication that it's not exclusively isolated to a small area either.

I'm thinking you entirely missed the point of the story...

So, in the book "The Lottery", why is it, before they have the annual lottery, no one just leaves.

I'd be like, fuck that... June 26, I think its a good time to leave.
Assuming you could leave - it's likely everyone would be on the lookout for people trying to run away, where would you go?

You couldn't return back as they'd know why you scarpered. From the story it said the stoning was still happening nearly everywhere else. So turning up in another town just announces to that crowd that you're running away. They might just decide to stone you cause you're a stranger.

And, as others have pointed out, it's a well ingrained tradition that no-one can see the wrongness of. Much like the games in Ancient Rome.

So, in the book "The Lottery", why is it, before they have the annual lottery, no one just leaves.

I'd be like, fuck that... June 26, I think its a good time to leave.

Or why is that the cops don't find out?

Or if I'd be chosen, i'd run to my automobile and drive away

Or if they gang up on me I'd have a gun and shoot them.

What about the news, no one could hide that, what if the stoning ends up on youtube?

I know this was written in the fourties but that cannot happen in America now... nor back then either (if you were white)

Errrmmm...best I recall the lottery was in all towns not just that one. It was customary and completely accepted...until Miss Cheerleader (can't think of her name) was chosen. Isn't that the point of the story....it's all fine and well to be full of glee at someone elses misfortune, but it isn't so damn much fun when it is yours. That among other points.

I remember studying that story in the 8th grade...it scared the crap out of me. :p