The lottery is a form of gambling in which prizes are awarded to people who randomly pick numbers or symbols at random for a chance to win a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse them to some extent and regulate them. In the United States, state governments run lotteries, giving them a quasi-monopoly over the market and using profits to fund government programs. Retailers, including convenience stores, gas stations, banks, and some nonprofit organizations (such as churches and fraternal groups), sell lottery tickets. Some retailers also offer online services to sell tickets.
The earliest recorded lotteries were in the Low Countries in the 15th century, with participants buying numbered receipts for the drawing of prizes that were typically money or goods. This type of lottery was influenced by the drawing of lots to decide ownership of items in ancient times, and it may have been a precursor to modern auctions.
Shirley Jackson’s short story The Lottery reflects on the harm caused by blindly following outdated traditions and customs. Set in a small village, the story uses the lottery ritual to show how violence can be justified by a supposedly harmless and innocuous tradition. By analyzing the ritual through the eyes of Tessie, Jackson encourages readers to question traditions that have become accepted as part of their culture and to challenge those that perpetuate injustice or harm. The story’s setting is similar to District 12 in The Hunger Games, another narrative that addresses the arbitrary nature of violence inflicted by people who simply follow the rules.