Black Box – The Lottery

The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers or symbols are drawn to determine the winners. This is an ancient practice, and it was first used in Europe as a way of giving away property and slaves. Its popularity grew throughout the fourteen hundred years, and by the seventeenth century, it was widely used in England to build town fortifications, finance charity, and even punish convicted criminals. It was also used to give away prizes at dinner parties, such as fancy plates and silverware, and as a divination tool by the Romans. In the early United States, lotteries were a popular source of funds for public works. However, they were not without critics. Devout Protestants viewed state-sanctioned gambling as immoral, and, by the late nineteen seventies, they were able to block lotteries in ten states.

The black box in this short story reflects the fact that traditions are often passed down through generations without being examined. Although Tessie thinks the lottery is unfair, she is reluctant to stand up against tradition and protest. This shows that just because something has been done for a long time, does not make it right.

The main theme in this short story is that people often mistreat others because of their culture and beliefs. The lottery is an example of this, and it shows how people tend to condone evil practices without thinking about their negative impacts on humankind. This is the reason why it is important to question what we do, rather than blindly accept it.