Final answer:
The central idea of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a critique of tradition, as it depicts a village that mindlessly adheres to a lethal practice. The evidence includes the townspeople's nonchalance towards the event as well as the unsettling twist of the lottery being a mechanism for selection of a sacrificial victim.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea of Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" is the critique of blindly following tradition without questioning its morality or usefulness. The story is set in a seemingly typical New England village, where the residents participate in an annual lottery. The shocking twist is that the winner of the lottery is stoned to death by the villagers, which is a stark commentary on the dangers of conformity and unexamined traditions. Evidence supporting this central idea includes the townspeople's casual approach to the lottery, their reluctance to oppose it despite the grim outcome, and the final brutal act that is accepted as normal.
The story's language and its progression from a peaceful setting to a violent conclusion serve to highlight the theme. Another piece of evidence is the characters' behavior throughout the story, such as their preparation for the event and their interactions with each other, which suggest a long-standing acceptance of the lottery as an integral part of their community life, despite its barbaric consequence.