A Discussion of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

[mortezaoz]

1 more point he didn't make is a concept in "ethical decision making" : "is it fair to sacrifice someone if everyone has the same chance of being chosen?" , the implication is in a hostage taking situation, or when survival in a critical situation would depend on sacrificing one person.

[mhz23]

Great companion piece. First time I've seen it.

[McCrystalc123]

I just watched this in class today and I fucking hate it and it's not right to do this I mean is there a reason y the did this back then and we get money instead Of having rocks throw at u this is bullshit I hate the author and how she made this book and this story it is so fucking bullshit god I hate u shearly Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ckparks32]

@McCrystalc123 I think you are a little confused. First off, in the movie you notice that at the very beginning it says that "this is fiction", that means that this did not really happen. The story is an allagory meant to illustrate our own apathy towards our fellow man. It's that "as long as it is not happening to me" mentality.

[rabbitmickey82]

I totally agreed, that the author creates the surrealism to let us realise the past was some silly mistakes where man gets manipulated easily. Just as we grow older we get wiser but the old man has not gotten wise, still sturborn, as where our politician and governments hanker over old policy which needs some effort to revise!

[Hugo411]

School Bullying goes on and on because those in charge look the other way. "there s always been a lottery" becomes there s always been this kind of thing in schools.

[revacohen]

I think the professor made some valid points, but there were certain things he overlooked. Tessie could not be called a martyr, because she had partaken in the lottery before and voiced no objection. She only protested because she was now the chosen victim. As far as the professor's comments on religion, I didn't catch that in the story. I also feel that religion in and of itself is not bad, but people should know why they are practicing it.

[RvrMay]

This video really opened my mind. I was confused then. Thank you!

[cuckos95]

"Man's inhumanity to man"

True!

[HipHopcheerleader]

It was fair and right when Tess partook of stoning the previous lottery winner.

[416mcp]

we had to read this story in high school. remember we had to read books we really didn't want to read. This story was great. I read We have Always Lived in a Castle just b/c I liked this story so much. I liked We....Castle too. I would like read other stories of hers but not sure which ones.i would have to order them. The bookstore near me only has collection of stories which inculdes, Hill House, Castle and Lottery. I read those. Anyother recommendations?

[SuperShahshab]

! Have you thought about this "vermont lottery master" guy (put in google)? Ive seen real good messages about him and with my cousin we thinking about many of mamona to get with this. how to use - Vermont lottery master lotto system.

[whyyyyou]

I'm not that well read of a person but I'll read and reread multiple times more, anything Shirley Jackson wrote.You can't go wrong with her.

I admire Jackson's restraint and dicipline. She never overwrote and blew her works out of proportion. Didn't write novels the size of telephone books.

There's way more to Shirley Jackson than just The Lottery. Her other short stories are just as good & disturbing.Pillar Of Salt,The Daemon Lover,The Apple Tree, and The Summer People to name a few.

[Serai3]

Seeing this film again after many years, it strikes me that one of the messages (for me, anyway) is the idea that, as bizarre and horrible as this event is when placed in modern times, perhaps it was JUST as bizarre and horrible in the earlier ages when stoning was supposedly more accepted. Perhaps people's attitudes about this punishment was just as ambivalent and terrified as that of the people in this video. But it's the "way things are" and so people do it, even if they find it horrifying.

[mcluuvnnn]

This also is a parable of how we as humans have not changed and we are the same as thousands of years ago. We like to believe that we are more "civilized" today, but beyond the small communities, humans are still violent at nature.

[nawaryoussef1]

thanks, i really didn't think about the story in this way until i watched this video.

[Wantsomecowbell]

Shirley Jackson is ahead of her time.

[puertopensee]

I think it's quite an effective short story but it really gets to me how high school English teachers and readers use it as this all-encompassing critique of tradition. If you put high school students on the spot and make them write a long essay on it, what's inevitable are these sophomoric, generalized and straw-man put-downs of society's traditions. Again, the story is fine but there are texts educators can use to get at these same issues in a more nuanced way.

[GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

In school, we once saw a much newer version of The Lottery. (The stoning part was MUCH more graphic).

[JoYoNoMeNow]

@GeneralSirDouglasMcA yea i saw it too

[RAD6324]

I'm pretty sure there's things like this still going going on on little towns in Vermont or Mississippi except with racism involved

[Serai3]

@RAD6324 Stonings NEVER happened in this country. Americans prefer hanging when it comes to indiscriminate public murder. This story was a take-off on the lotteries that used to be held in New England towns, but then the townspeople won household furnishings and the like. That's why the story was such a shock when it was published, because it dealt with something readers would have been familiar with in 1948.

[Skeletor4ever]

Even little Davey thought it was unfair.

[dltanner99]

Horror novel see video book trailer

[geek5651]

This is todays society.. We don't want to take the responsibility for our own choices ,, So we choose someone else to blame.. Cut out Their hearts and offer Them up as the sacrifice of appeasement.. Everything is fine "UNTILL" It is WE who are to be offered... Why do you think we have "No Fault" auto insurance and "No Fault" divorces ,, etc ,, etc?? If we can make it someone elses problem 'or' fault ,, Then WE are Not Guilty.. "Or Are We??" And what have we been teaching??

[zetsushoren]

Humans are disgusting, filthy motherfucking penis-raping creatures and the most disgusting ones on all faces of this planet

[29203811919]

@zetsushoren lol dickhead you just insulted yourself and your entire family.

[angelmoonie]

when i first saw this movie in english class, i was very confused up until the end. then i thought "wtf is going on here?!" people are truly insane like this

[Nupurcute12]

thank u so much..if it wasn't this vid

i probably would never understand the story..!!!!!!

[TheNoisePolluter]

Why would anyone show up to this gathering of stoning someone, I learned this in school, made no sense. They choose someone to kill, because they have no crime in their community Vs. people getting killed in cities. So they choose someone to kill to keep up with the percentages of death as in a city, but they're a bunch of hypocrits, because to live in an independant community with no crime would have the advantage of no murders. So if you stone the only doctor in town.. who do you visit?

[scancool]

hahhaha, this comments reminds me of southpark when everyone tries to analyze the book "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerBalls"

Southpark is reality TV!!!!!!!!!!

[DiamondCharm660]

he has a good point of view

[gathimest]

Somebody has to mention Squidbillies

[chatterbox489]

This is about traditions. And it has nothing to do with one less mouth to feed. They believe in sacrificing one for the good of the many. "Lottery in June corn heavy soon" means they are sacrificing her for the crops. Particularly stoning so that each person can participate and gain from it.

[roxysayu]

i really didn't get the story can some one explain to me

[lscullengirl]

@roxysayu there i$ a town where once a year they put $lip$ of paper in a box, and 1 $lip ha$ a black dot on it. each peron HA$ to pick one $lip, and whoever get$ the one with the dot i$ killed becaue they believe it will help their crop grow

[pressmin]

@roxysayu Watch the film first and see for yourself what it is about. Then come back and watch the discussin Uon about it. The film is also posted on YT. See for yourself.

[GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

@roxysayu Once a year (every June 27th) the town gathers and everyone picks a piece of paper. Whoever gets the piece of paper with the black circle on it, gets stoned to death.

What they did here was whoever picked the paper with the black circle, that person and their family members draw again just amongst themselves. Whoever gets the black-dotted paper then gets stoned to death.

[mhz23]

@roxysayu Read the story. Then see the film.

[gaytrampboy]

Religion shouldn't be the main point of this piece, it's basically either traditions or the society changing over a new leaf to go with a brand new method. Old Man had stated the "young folks" "crops" "corn" all leads to later on generations and harvesting. But of course this is my English assignment at the moment and it's pretty sick, twist and has a mind boggling and mind breaker to humans. Good piece, crazy thoughts and who knows. I'd say this is a reference for a story in the future.

[nevertolive]

Another look at this.... 1 difference makes somebody, or a people "strange"

[Paulwhoisvegan]

"Mid 20th century America"? What! It's the 21st century sir! LOL FAIL! HA HA HA 7:01

[princessjennyy143]

@Paulwhoisvegan This documentary was filmed in the mid twentieth century (during late 1960s' when the story was written). The narrator was depicting the setting where 'The Lottery' took place. If it was filmed in 21st, the image would have been much clearer.

[jaabawag05]

This story is simply about holding onto tradition, regardless of how sensless it seems...just because it's always been done. They believe that sacrifice brings harvest. They hold on to this because they haven't been shown or taught anything different. It's the norm and they are afraid to make changes because they are afraid of the unknown.

[DendonYaseen]

i like it.it's twisted,it's weird,it's sadly true,whether in the literal act of it or the symbolic meaning under the whole death of the lady.Yet,it shocks you to the point of thinking, what a waste ! a waste of a person, a waste of mind of a complete community, and of course, a waste of time reading the details of the whole story !! ;p

[ToxicOdiousOne]

Stoned by radical Muslims.

[Paulwhoisvegan]

@ToxicOdiousOne Your an Islamophobe! Just because they believe in Allah and not Jesus as god, doesn't mean you have to be racist!

[3omberMan]

@Paulwhoisvegan

Muslim is not a race.

js

[XxXmarielle]

hellah fcked up .

[etceteravideo]

Personally I'm a Christian, but I want to reading the discussion I want to offer the question "Hasn't the church form some traditions akin to the Lottery?" I mean, I believe that if we would TRULY get to know God we wouldn't have problems like this, but when I think of the Catholic church I can't stave off the feeling that the church is more like this small town that most people are comfortable admitting.

[etceteravideo]

@etceteravideo Wow, grammar fail. Sorry.

[colin2680]

I saw the 1996 Version of the Lottery. In High School some thought it was real was it Real I always believed that this movie was only based on a Novel. It's Scary but I dont think that happens in some part of America ? or else everyone would no about it.

[volacious]

meh, i never believed in god and i still know morals

[colin2680]

What Do you mean About Morals If you dont mind me asking?

[volacious]

Unfortunately, due to Youtube's many changes, It doesn't appear that I've posted a reply to someones comment, which is exactly what I had done. Basically i'm saying that this isn't a "Godless" scenario, because a. they're sacrificing it FOR a god, and b. because religion didn't create morals.

[eiroight]

This story is pretty much a Godless scenario.

[volacious]

What do you mean by Godless?

[eiroight]

By Godless i mean like a world that doesnt know about God or anything about his laws, like people who have their own traditions and beliefs. Because if they knew about God and believed in him, they would know that what they are doing here is against his laws.

[missmurder4108]

tessie was fine with all the other times she had to stone someone to death, but all of a sudden it isnt fair when its her turn

[MasterJP28]

Exactly. People are terrible at times.

[eiroight]

yeah, like where did that "it wasn't fair, he didnt have time" come from. lol, screwed up excuse.

She was also saying that she was glad she didnt miss it. What a messed up story. Looks like she was wishing she was living somewhere else when she got picked.

[cofycats]

It's a story that is commentary on society, those who think it is stupid are afraid to look at who we are under the surface. But, then again, these are the same people who protect fetuses like they were gold, but have no problem sending their 18 year olds off to someone ELSES war!

[itune41k]

@cofycats Well said. So many people follow blindly it's insane.

[MasterJP28]

Not someone elses war. Rather greed, all they wanted was control of the oil but that plan backfired. They were too lazy to think of alternate to fuel, other countries are trying and now we started too with hybrids but still. This war started and it will take a lot of time for it to finish. Don't forget the Vietnam war, what was the reason for that one again?

[F33bs]

@cofycats What do you mean "someone elses" war? Is war and human suffering mitigated by borders? You exemplify the same tribalistic thinking that makes genocide and inhumanity possible.

The War in Iraq is not "someone elses" war, it involves your fellow human beings and you should feel just as much disgust as the innocent civilians involved themselves do.

[rockerstarblack]

The lottery is birth

[maxinetri]

Not only twisted but, very stupid.

[cheeerioo]

AGREED