A lottery is a form of gambling where people pay a small sum to have a chance of winning a prize. The prizes are often cash or goods. Lotteries can also be used to distribute public services, such as housing units or kindergarten placements. They can be organized by a government or privately sponsored by businesses.
Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery takes place in a rural American village. The central theme is the blind following of outdated traditions and rituals. The story is a warning that these traditions can be dangerous. Despite the fact that most villagers do not even remember why they hold the lottery, they still continue to conduct it every year on the same date.
The story opens with a scene of the village’s residents gathering in a town square for the lottery. The organizers of the lottery, Mr. Summers and his associate Mr. Graves, have a list of the biggest families in the area. They plan to give each family one ticket. The tickets are all blank except for one that has a black dot.
Gamblers, including lottery players, covet money and the things that money can buy. The Bible warns against this sin (Exodus 20:17 and Ecclesiastes 5:10). Lottery players are lured by promises that they will become rich if they win the lottery. They are deceived by this false hope and are destined for disappointment. They have been tricked into believing that they can get everything they want by paying a few dollars for a tiny chance of winning a big prize.