"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson - Full Audiobook

Summary

In this tense narrative, a small village gathers for an annual lottery that unfolds with an eerie normalcy. The morning begins with villagers casually assembling, chatting about daily life while children play with stones. Mr. Summers, who runs the lottery, calls families forward to draw slips of paper from a black box. As the ritual progresses, it becomes clear that this lottery has dark consequences. Tessie Hutchinson draws the marked slip, sparking a frantic plea for fairness before the villagers, armed with stones, close in on her, marking a brutal end to the tradition.

Takeaways

• 🌞 The morning of June 27th was sunny and warm, with the village preparing for the annual lottery.
• 👧 The children gathered first, excited and still talking about school, while boys began piling stones.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The villagers—men, women, and children—gradually assembled in the village square for the lottery.
• 👴 Mr. Summers, a jovial man, led the lottery, using an old black box filled with slips of paper.
• 🕰️ The black box used for the lottery was worn and old, but the tradition was too deeply ingrained to change it.
• 📄 The lottery process had changed over time, with slips of paper replacing the wooden chips of earlier years.
• 📝 Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves prepared the slips the night before, organizing the drawing for families and households.
• 👨‍⚖️ As the lottery proceeded, the heads of families took their turns drawing papers from the black box.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The Hutchinson family drew the slip with the black spot, singling out Tessie Hutchinson as the 'winner.'
• ⚠️ The villagers, following the ritual, prepared to stone Tessie, who protested that the lottery was unfair.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story in the script?

The story is set on a clear, sunny morning on June 27th in a small village with around 300 people. The village square is between the post office and the bank.

Why does the village gather in the square?

The villagers gather in the square for the annual lottery, a tradition that has been followed for many years.

What role does Mr. Summers play in the lottery?

Mr. Summers is the official who conducts the lottery. He is described as a jovial man with time and energy to devote to civic activities, and he runs the lottery every year.

What is the significance of the black box in the lottery?

The black box is used to hold the slips of paper for the lottery. It is old and worn, and though Mr. Summers has suggested replacing it, the villagers are reluctant to change this part of their tradition.

How do the villagers feel about the lottery tradition?

The villagers have mixed feelings. While they follow the tradition, some parts of the ritual have been forgotten or discarded, and there are indications that people in neighboring villages are considering giving up the lottery.

What happens to Tessie Hutchinson during the lottery?

Tessie Hutchinson ends up drawing the slip of paper with the black spot, marking her as the 'winner' of the lottery. Despite her protests that it wasn't fair, the villagers proceed with the final part of the lottery.

What is the role of the stones in the story?

The stones are used by the villagers to carry out the final part of the lottery. Once Tessie is identified as the 'winner,' the villagers—including children—gather stones to throw at her.

Why does Tessie Hutchinson protest the result of the lottery?

Tessie protests because she feels that her husband Bill was not given enough time to select a slip of paper. She believes the process was unfair.

How does the story portray the attitudes of the villagers toward the lottery?

The villagers are portrayed as largely accepting of the lottery, even though they are aware of its harsh consequences. There are moments of casual conversation and humor, but when it comes to the lottery, they follow the tradition without hesitation.

What does Old Man Warner symbolize in the story?

Old Man Warner symbolizes the older generation's staunch defense of tradition. He dismisses any suggestions of abandoning the lottery as foolish and clings to the belief that it is necessary for the well-being of the village.