Shirley Jackson | Lecturia

Shirley Jackson: The Lottery. Summary and analysis

The Lottery is a short story by Shirley Jackson, published on June 26, 1948, in The New Yorker. Set in a small rural town, it tells of the annual celebration of a community lottery that brings all its inhabitants together in the town square. On a sunny day in June, men, women, and children participate in the event with a disturbing naturalness, waiting expectantly for the draw. As the process progresses, details about the tradition and the rigid social structure that sustains it are revealed. What begins as a routine act hides a disturbing truth.

Shirley Jackson: The Summer People

“The Summer People” is a disturbing story by the acclaimed American author Shirley Jackson, published in September 1950 in the magazine Charm. The story explores the story of an elderly couple, the Allisons, who, after years of spending their summers in a quiet country cottage, decide to extend their stay beyond the usual season. However, this harmless decision triggers a series of unexpected events.

Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

In “The Lottery,” a short story by Shirley Jackson published in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948, the residents of a small town participate in an annual lottery, which at first glance appears to be an innocent community tradition. However, a disturbing reality behind this entrenched practice is revealed as the narrative unfolds. The story delves into social conformity, the aversion to change, and the sinister nature that can lie in the traditions of a community. It is a disturbing story, controversial in its time, which has become one of the most relevant short stories in the history of the American narrative.