In this synopsis of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson the author looks at many features of the book. He starts with a look
at the false feeling of normal life that Jackson gives in the
beginning of the book talking about how the
villagers are carrying on with their regular chores at the beginning of the big lottery day. But as the author progresses he points out how Jackson introduces a dichotomy between tradition and change, youth and age, as one of the characters declares that several neighboring villages have abandoned the lottery. The author concludes that Jackson portrays the villagers as being locked in an immature developmental state, an unyielding, unquestioning, and mindless obedience to tradition as they are unwilling to abandon the lottery.