What do death play for in the lottery?

Answer 1

In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," death plays a central role as it underscores the dark and violent consequences of blindly following tradition. The lottery culminates in a shocking ritual where a member of the community is stoned to death, illustrating the brutality that can lurk beneath the surface of societal norms. This act serves to critique conformity and the human capacity for violence, revealing how people can become desensitized to cruelty when it is sanctioned by tradition. Ultimately, death in the lottery symbolizes the chilling cost of adherence to outdated customs.