Who Was the Scapegoat in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery?

Discover who the scapegoat is in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery and understand its significance in the story's themes of tradition and social conformity.

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In the story 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, the scapegoat is Tessie Hutchinson. She draws the paper with the black dot, signaling her selection for the ritualistic sacrifice by the townspeople. This event critically underscores themes of tradition, violence, and social conformity within the narrative.

FAQs & Answers

  1. Who is the scapegoat in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson? Tessie Hutchinson is the scapegoat in The Lottery; she is selected by the ritual and becomes the victim of the town's sacrifice.
  2. What does the scapegoat represent in The Lottery? The scapegoat represents the victim chosen to bear the community's burdens, highlighting themes of tradition, violence, and social conformity in the story.
  3. Why does Tessie Hutchinson become the scapegoat in The Lottery? Tessie becomes the scapegoat because she draws the paper marked with a black dot during the lottery, a ritualistic sacrifice imposed by the townspeople.
  4. What is the significance of the lottery in Shirley Jackson's story? The lottery symbolizes the blind adherence to tradition and the dark consequences of societal conformity, culminating in the scapegoating of an innocent member.