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A Passing of Heritage Values that people live or abide by are reflected in the customs, traditions and rituals exercised. Many different cultures have their own history and specifications upon the location and birth of the rituals shared. The American culture has a variety of customs and traditions rooted in which their forefathers, who were either Native Americans or people who settled this land, journeying long distances from other nations in search of “The American Dream.” Short stories such as, “The Lottery” and “Miss Bliss,” are informative stories, which enlighten the audience of the different rituals and traditions that disparate cultures encounter. Society passes principles and values to future generations through customs, traditions and rituals that mold a lens through which we view our lives and shape our opinions. Throughout history, cultures have passed their family values to future generations by these means. “The Lottery” is a short story that represents a village and its past collective experience shown in rituals, symbols, and motifs. A good harvest was always vital to civilizations and after the fields had been prepared and the seeds sown, the farmer could only wait and hope that the proper balance of rain and sun would ensure a good harvest. From this hope sprang the ritual of the Lottery. Ancient people began sacrificial rituals to emulate a resurrection cycle, which soon began as a vegetation ceremony. It was developed into a cathartic cleansing of an entire tribe or village. Shirley Jackson creates a balance of juxtaposing Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves to share in the responsibilities of the ritual: Life brings death, and death recycles life. Mr. Summers was also in charge of the square dances, the teenage club, the coal business and the Halloween program. The Lottery had occurred for a number of years, and it was as old as the oldest man in the village, 77years. It takes place every year on June 27th, when the nature cycle peaks midsummer. The people in the village would gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o’clock in the morning. Walker 2 The black box, the piles of stones collected, and the slips of paper for the box, were all symbolic objects used for the ritual. Mr. Summers, the head of the lottery, and Mr. Graves were responsible for making the lists of the families the night before the lottery. The next day, Mr. Summers would read the names, head of the families, from the list and the men would come up and take a paper out of the box.
Approximate Word count = 1708
Approximate Pages = 6.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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