The lottery, in which numbers are drawn to determine a prize, has become an American tradition with a storied history. Historically, lotteries have been popular sources of state revenue, and they have been hailed as a “painless form of taxation.” While the benefits of these funds are often touted, the lottery is not without its problems. Many states are now facing budget crises, and they may soon find that their lottery revenues are not enough to keep them afloat.
In Shirley Jackson’s story, the lottery takes place on a single day in June of an unspecified year. The story begins with the narrator watching children who have just returned from summer break assemble in the town square for the annual lottery ritual. As they do, the narrator observes the stereotypical normalcy of small-town life—villagers warmly gossiping and discussing their work. The narrator then watches the adults begin to gather, as well. As the villagers start to select their numbers, they display the stereotypical behavior of the patriarchal culture they inhabit.
Among the villagers, there are two men who stand out from the rest. One is an older man, a local reverend who is also the head of the church; the other is a wealthy businessman whose family is well established in the community. The man who is the head of the church becomes the scapegoat for the lottery’s failure. He tries to explain the outcome to the crowd, but everyone is unwilling to believe his explanation. The scapegoat is then murdered, and the ritual is repeated the next year.
Jackson’s story is saturated with symbolism, which helps construct meaning and feeling in the text. A key symbolic figure in the story is the man who picks the number that becomes his own death sentence. This is a powerful reminder of the power that individuals have over their own lives, and how the decisions they make can lead to tragic consequences.
In the case of the lottery, government officials promote it as a way to increase state revenue and provide social safety nets for the poor and working class. However, it is important to consider the percentage of overall state revenue that these revenues represent. In reality, the vast majority of lottery funds come from middle- and upper-income neighborhoods. Lotteries are a classic example of public policy being made piecemeal and incrementally, with little or no overall overview, leaving officials dependent on a revenue source that they cannot control. In an anti-tax era, this can create a dangerous dynamic where state officials are unable to stop gambling and are always under pressure to increase lottery revenues even further. Similar dynamics exist with sports betting. This is why it is so crucial to advocate for a holistic approach to state funding.