A lottery is a procedure for distributing something (usually money or prizes) among a group of people according to chance. Some lotteries are run by the state, while others are private and based on sales of tickets. The most popular type of lottery involves buying a ticket for a small sum of money and hoping to win the jackpot. Although many people enjoy playing the lottery, there are some who believe it is a dangerous form of gambling and should be avoided. However, some states have legalized it and use the proceeds to fund various public sector projects.
The word lottery comes from the Old English lotterye, meaning “fateful event” or “chance.” In biblical times, Moses instructed the Israelites to divide land by lot and in ancient Rome, emperors used lotteries to give away property and slaves. Lotteries have also been used to finance public works, including roads, canals, bridges and universities in colonial America. The earliest state-sponsored lotteries were held in Europe during the 1500s. France’s King Francis I introduced them in his country by allowing the sale of tickets and redistributing the proceeds for public good.
When the people in Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery gather on the town square, they do so with a sense of apprehension and fear. Despite the fact that most of the participants do not even remember what the lottery is supposed to be about, they continue with this ritual year after year. This is mainly due to tradition. The narrator quotes a man who explains that the old belief was that when you have a lottery in June, the corn will be heavy soon.
As the villagers prepare for the lottery, there is a growing sense of tension as everyone waits to see who will be the winner. The tension is increased as the black box is uncovered and the narrator tells us that there is no clear indication of what the prize will be. The participants draw pieces of paper, and as the Hutchinson family draws theirs, there is a glimmer of hope that Tessie will be the lucky one.
The narrator and the audience begin to realize that the lottery is not about winning but rather about human sacrifice. As the villagers take their turns to draw, the sense of apprehension mounts and the readers can feel for the characters. The final result is a tragedy that highlights the idea of blind following of traditions and beliefs that can be harmful to society. Characterization is an essential tool in writing and can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The setting, actions and general behavior of the characters are some of the most effective characterization methods. These tools can help the reader understand the story and its themes in a deeper way.