Final answer:
Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery” is a fictional story critiquing blind tradition, while Aztec sacrifices were real religious rituals intended to maintain cosmic balance and appease gods, highlighting contrasting contexts and meanings behind these practices of sacrifice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences between the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and the historical practice of Aztec sacrifice are rooted in both purpose and societal implications. Jackson's “The Lottery” is a work of fiction that aims to comment on the blind adherence to traditions and the human capacity for violence. It describes a small town that annually conducts a lottery in which the “winner” is ultimately stoned to death by the community. The shock and controversy surrounding the story's publication reflect its jarring impact on readers and its enduring significance in American literature.
In contrast, Aztec sacrifices were real and deeply ingrained in the Mesoamerican belief system, where such rituals were performed to maintain cosmic balance and appease the gods. The sacrifices were believed to be essential for the continuation of life and were therefore viewed as a necessary and honorable duty. While both scenarios involve community-endorsed violence, the context, intention, and cultural meaning behind them contrast sharply.