Author’s note: This
fine day I am writing a response to the short story “The Lottery.” I’m writing
about the symbolism of the black box.
When I
think of the lottery I think cash and being lucky. For the people in the short
story “The Lottery.” It was the exact opposite. People gathered from all
through the land to witness the lottery. “When he arrived in the square,
carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the
villagers, and he waved and called, "Little late today, folks." The
postmaster, Mr. Graves, followed him, carrying a three- legged stool, and the
stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box
down on it. The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves
and the stool, and when Mr. Summers said, "Some of you fellows want to
give me a hand?" there was a hesitation before two men, Mr. Martin and his
oldest son, Baxter, came forward to hold the box steady on the stool while Mr.
Summers stirred up the papers inside it.” The box symbolized death and sorrow.
No one even wanted to be by it. As you can see above; the lottery of this town
is something you didn’t want to win.
