THE LOTTERY

The Lottery

The Lottery

The Review

This story is most likely one of the best-known in 20th century American literature--not essentially because it is philosophically thoughtful or creatively outstanding, but because its conclusion grasps the reader uninformed and shocks him or her with its barbarity.

In the beginning, one anticipates the common convention of a lottery--that someone would win an attractive prize. However, as the reader moves ahead into the story, worrying details suggest that more is at stake. When Tessie Hutchinson draws the unlucky token and objects that “It wasn't fair,” the people of the town advised her to be a good ...