Final answer:
In 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, societal changes are reflected in the fading tradition and practical alterations to the lottery, with the shifts suggesting a conflict between preserving tradition and evolving societal morals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, changes that have taken place over the years are often subtle and not explicitly stated, but they reflect societal transformation and adherence to tradition despite the loss of original meaning. The townspeople in the story continue the lottery ritual with some alterations to the process, such as creating slips of paper instead of using wood chips, which indicates a shift from a more primitive to a slightly more modern society. Other changes include the fading tradition, as younger generations and other towns consider ending the lottery, showing a conflict between preservation of tradition and the evolution of societal morals. It seems that these changes occurred due to practical reasons, like the population growth or perhaps a loss of the original box, and societal changes, with some individuals questioning the ritual's relevance and humanity.
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