A Box and a Tradition

"The Lottery"
Shirley Jackson

One of the most important aspects of the story is that of the box out of which the lottery is held. It is old, falling apart, and mysterious within its origin; all of these characteristics can also be used to describe the tradition of the lottery itself. Therefore, the black box is symbolic of the lottery itself.

The first characteristic of the box, its being old, is one of the most important aspects of the lottery. It is tradition. It has been passed on from when society had first begun. Even with talk of letting the tradition die, the townspeople find trouble in abandoning their past. "Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box," (Jackson, 265). Likewise, no one seems to know where the box hails from. Some rumor that it was constructed from pieces of the previous lottery box, but no one knows for certain. They also have no knowledge of how the tradition of the lottery began. The only person calling any recollection of the meaning of the ritual is Old Man Warner, the oldest inhabitant of the village, and his recollection is solely a vague saying about the ceremony.

Lastly, the box is falling apart, just as the tradition of the stoning is also beginning to lose popularity. Mr. Adams states that other villages have already abandoned the practice of the tradition. This is an indirect suggestion that maybe their village should also consider giving up on the harsh ritual. However, just like the black box, it continues to endure and remains a constant reminder of the villagers' past and tradition.