a scheme for allocating money, property, or prizes by chance, usually requiring payment of a consideration for a chance to win. Making decisions or determining fates by casting lots has a long history, including several examples in the Bible, but the lottery as an instrument of material gain is of relatively recent origin. Modern lotteries vary in form, but most require payment for a chance to win and offer a fixed proportion of the proceeds from ticket sales as prizes.
A central theme of the short story is the danger of unquestioning adherence to tradition and the potential for senseless violence lurking beneath seemingly peaceful societies. Jackson evokes this theme through her use of setting and characterization methods. The villagers in the story are depicted as primitive, even savage, people who stone their unfortunate winner to death simply because they must carry on with the annual ritual.
The lottery has gained in popularity throughout the United States since its revival in the 1960s, largely due to the state governments’ interest in generating additional revenue without increasing taxes on citizens. The main arguments used by state governments in favor of adopting a lottery are that it is a form of painless taxation and that it provides an incentive for people to spend more, which ultimately benefits society.
Whether or not these claims are true, there is no doubt that the lottery plays on the fear of missing out (FOMO). The fact that everyone else is playing and possibly winning drives people to purchase tickets in the hopes that they will be the next big winner. In addition, advertising campaigns expertly capitalize on this feeling by showing images of previous winners and by highlighting the aspirations of those who dream of wealth.
