The lottery is a game of chance where people get the opportunity to win big money by choosing a set of numbers. It is considered as one of the biggest forms of gambling that is played worldwide. The reason why it is so popular is because of the fact that it is a game that can provide people with a huge sum of money. The odds of winning the lottery are quite low though but many people still play it in order to try their luck.
It is clear from the story that Shirley Jackson has a distaste for the people who participate in the lottery. The story hints that there is something deceitful in human nature. Often, the people who win in the lottery are those who have no morals at all and will do anything to get the money. Even if the money isn’t what they are after, they will take it anyways and will not care about the consequences of their actions.
The story is also about the concept of covetousness. This concept is rooted in the Bible, specifically Exodus 20:17, which states, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, his wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or any of their possessions.” This concept is evident throughout the story, especially when the man decides to kill his family to get the money.
Another theme in this story is the concept of class and society. The story shows that the lottery is a form of class warfare and that it can be very dangerous to those who do not belong in a particular class. It is also shown that the lottery can be very addictive to those who play it.
People who play the lottery tend to believe that their lives will be better if they could just win. They think that it will solve all of their problems and make them rich, which is a very dangerous way of thinking. It is the same type of thinking that is behind many other addictions, such as drugs and video games.
Lottery commissions try to imply that people enjoy playing the lottery because it is fun, but this is not true. The truth is that they are using psychological tactics to keep people hooked on their product. It is not much different from how tobacco companies and video game manufacturers do it. Lottery commissions do not have the same kind of moral standing as they would if they were selling heroin, but they aren’t above exploiting people’s cravings for risk-taking.