Question

In The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.What seems to have been the original purpose of the lottery, and what do people believe about it?

A. The original purpose of the lottery seemed to be some twisted sort of rain dance ritual; people believe it guarantees good weather for the crops.
B. The original purpose of the lottery was to select the town's leader; people believe it brings prosperity to the chosen one.
C. The original purpose of the lottery was a means of population control; people believe it prevents overpopulation.
D. The original purpose of the lottery was a celebratory event; people believe it commemorates the town's founding.

Answer 1

The original purpose of the lottery in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is implied to be a ritual sacrifice for a good harvest, but has devolved into a blind tradition with some villagers still believing it benefits their crops.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, the original purpose of the lottery is not explicitly stated in the text, but hints throughout the story and details at the end suggest it was a form of ritual sacrifice. This longstanding tradition was likely intended in the past to ensure a good harvest, akin to a rain dance ritual, which is supported by a character's statement that there used to be a saying about "lottery in June, corn be heavy soon." However, in the context of the story, the villagers seem to have mostly forgotten the original purpose and now follow the lottery out of blind tradition, though some still believe it affects their crops positively.