A lottery is an organized system of awarding prizes based on chance. It is most commonly used to distribute cash or goods such as cars, houses, and other consumer goods. Some lotteries also offer sporting or charitable prizes. Some state governments also use lotteries to raise money for public projects or to subsidize budget deficits. The word “lottery” is thought to derive from the Dutch noun lot, meaning fate or fortune. The practice of using chance to allocate prizes dates back to the Middle Ages. It was popularized in the United States during the 1960s when New York introduced its first lottery. Other states quickly followed suit and the popularity of the lottery grew rapidly throughout the Northeast. The lottery became so popular that some residents even crossed state lines to purchase tickets. The lottery is a form of gambling, and as such, must adhere to laws regulating its operation. The laws typically prohibit the sale of tickets to minors and set the minimum purchase limit for tickets. The laws also restrict the advertising and promotion of lottery products. Some lotteries have partnered with sports teams or other companies to promote their games by offering popular products as prizes.
A person who plays a lottery is known as a “bettor.” The bettors write their names and numbers on a ticket that is then deposited with the lottery organizer for later shuffling and selection in a drawing. A percentage of the pool is deducted for costs and profit to the lottery organization, and the remainder is awarded as prizes. Some modern lotteries use computer programs to record bettor identification and ticket numbers.
Shirley Jackson’s short story, The Lottery, takes place in a small American village. The people live in a traditional setting and maintain many of the same customs that they have had for generations. The events of the story show that humankind is not very good and that evil exists in all of us. Jackson shows this by showing the terrible and horrific things that happen to these innocent people.
Jackson depicts the events that occur in this small village with a great deal of detail. She describes the villagers as “soon to be accustomed to the procedure.” The narrator tells us that a number of the villagers are not happy with this arrangement. She also notes that the family of Tessie Hutchinson was particularly unhappy.
The story of Tessie’s family is an example of the theme that Jackson presents in her short story. Family members care only about their own self-preservation and have no empathy for others. This is demonstrated in the gruesome way that they treat her after she is selected for the lottery. Tessie’s children, Nancy and Bill, also demonstrate this lack of loyalty to their mother as they play with the pieces of paper that will ultimately determine her fate. This is a powerful theme that shows the evil nature of humanity and how hypocritical it is.