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Indian Express
27-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
A lottery no one wants to draw: How June 27 became synonymous with blind tradition
For most, June 27 might seem like just another summer day, but for fans of psychological horror and American literature it is of the most chilling and unforgettable dates ever written. In Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery, it is the day a small town comes together for a horrifying tradition: a public execution disguised as a community event. When The Lottery was first published in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948, readers were shocked and horrified. The magazine received an overwhelming response from readers across the country. Reposting the story in 2021, The New Yorker reminisced: 'Jackson's short story 'The Lottery,' from 1948, inspired the most mail The New Yorker had ever received in response to a work of fiction and caused some readers to cancel their subscriptions.' People were upset not just because of the story's dark twist, but because it hit too close to home. Jackson did not write of fantastical monsters removed from reality, she wrote about ordinary people doing something terrible simply because 'it's tradition.' Each year on June 27, the townspeople gather to hold a lottery where one person is chosen by a random draw. The 'winner,' however, is not rewarded (spoiler alert), the town stones them to death. On the day the novel unfolds, the person selected is Tessie Hutchinson. Though she laughs and jokes at the beginning, her tone changes when her name is called. She protests, 'It wasn't fair!' But no one listens. The sheeplike townspeople carry out the tradition without remorse. Even Tessie's young son is given a few pebbles to throw. What makes The Lottery so disturbing is how normal everything seems. The setting is peaceful. The characters are ordinary people. The word 'lottery' usually suggests a prize or something positive. Because of this contrast, the brutal ending is even more shocking. Shirley Jackson uses this dissonance to make readers uncomfortable. It is a warning against the dangers of blindly following tradition. The villagers do not really know why they hold the lottery. They have forgotten most of the original ritual, but they still do it every year without question. The story also shows how ordinary people can commit violence when it is socially accepted. No one in the town feels personally responsible for Tessie's death, because everyone is participating. The calmness with which the brutal murder is narrated is a testament to how the practice has been normalised . Even Tessie does not protest the lottery itself, only the fact that she is chosen. It speaks of pervasive collective compliance where people often ignore injustice until it affects them personally. The Lottery continues to be taught, studied, and debated more than 75 years after it was first published. It has been adapted for stage and screen, referenced in TV shows, and included in countless anthologies. And each year, as June 27 approaches, readers are reminded of the terrifying power of tradition, and our responsibility to question it. The Lottery reminds us that the most frightening monsters are not always fictional, most of the time they hide in plain sight: smiling, laughing, and following the rules.
Boston Globe
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Boston celebrates AAPI Heritage Month with events citywide
Players from the U-12 Boston Hurricanes youth basketball team high-five Red Sox mascot Tessie as they wait to take the field with Sox players before a game against the San Francisco Giants on May 1, 2024 at Fenway Park. Maddie Malhotra/BostonFOR JERSEYS AND JOY Fenway Park will host a special celebration of AAPI Heritage Month as the Red Sox play the Minnesota Twins. Before the first pitch, there will be an opportunity to watch cultural performances and enjoy special food and beverages. Guests who purchase tickets through the special offer will receive a Red Sox AAPI Celebration jersey featuring hibiscus flowers to honor the Pacific Islands and a red and yellow snake to acknowledge the Year of the Snake. May 2, 7:10 p.m . Ticket prices vary. Fenway Park, 4 Jersey St. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up CRAFTS AND CULTURE Celebrate heritage, tradition, and art at the Boston Children's Museum, which will offer exhibits, crafts, music, and dance to honor local AAPI artists and observe AAPI Heritage Month. Watch the Nüwa Athletic Club perform a Chinese lion dance, attend a reading with author Zain Bandali, or draw with Bren Bataclan. May 5-26, times vary. $22 . Boston Children's Museum, 308 Congress St. Advertisement Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission Unity Dinner. Lee-Daniel Tran HONORING AAPI EXCELLENCE The annual Unity Dinner honors the AAPI community across Massachusetts and encourages diverse fund-raising and advocacy. The celebration includes guest speakers, showings and performances, awards, and, of course, delicious food. The dinner seeks to recognize the accomplishments of AAPI individuals and their contributions, honoring new community leaders each year with Lifetime Achievement, Leadership for Diversity & Inclusion, and Unsung Hero Awards. May 10, 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $129.89. Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough. VOICES FROM THE DIASPORA Boston Cecilia will close out its 149th season with performances of Asian and Asian-American choral music. Premiering in the US for the first time is Japanese composer Hina Sakamoto's 'Requiem.' The titular performance, 'The Tipping Point' by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, anchors the performance. Giri Subramaniam will accompany on the tabla, a traditional Indian percussion instrument. Music from Turkey, China, and the Philippines will also be featured. May 17, 8 p.m. Tickets are $15-$62. All Saints Parish, 1773 Beacon St., Brookline. STRIDES FOR AAPI The Boston Road Runners will celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities by hosting a 5K run fund-raiser for local AAPI nonprofits. OCA New England, Asian Women for Health, and Asian Community Development Corporation are a few of the many charities partnering with the Road Runners for the event. May 18, 9 a.m. race start . Registration is $30 . Metropolitan District Commission Pavilion, 165 HarborWalk . Advertisement From a previous Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration Weekend at the Museum of Science. Nic Czarnecki DANCES, DEMOS, AND DISCOVERY The Museum of Science will host a weekend of AAPI Month celebration featuring activities, speakers, community organizations, and performances of traditional dances such as Kuchipudi and lion dance demonstrations. Throughout the month, the museum will also share Suitcase Stories of migration and inclusivity by local AAPI storytellers. May 18-19, times vary. Tickets are $26 for children, $31 for adults. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park. Haley Clough can be reached at
