In the story, “The Lottery,” the person in charge of conducting the lottery is portrayed as Mr. Summers, a well-known member of the community who performed various civic duties.
In Shirley Jackson’s chilling short story, “The Lottery,” the responsibility of overseeing the ominous ritual falls upon a character named Mr. Summers. Known as a prominent and respected member of the community, Mr. Summers is depicted as the one who conducts the lottery proceedings. The story provides us with glimpses into his character, suggesting that he plays a significant role in the community’s events.
To delve deeper into this topic, we can explore a quote from the story: “Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box” (Jackson, 1948). This quote emphasizes Mr. Summers’ involvement in the lottery, as he is not only the conductor but also actively engages with the villagers regarding its procedures.
To shed further light on the role of Mr. Summers, here are some interesting facts related to the story and its context:
- Symbolism: Mr. Summers’ name reflects the season in which the lottery takes place, reinforcing its connection to the harvest and renewal.
- Community Leader: Apart from conducting the lottery, Mr. Summers is mentioned as having various civic duties, suggesting he plays an important role in the community’s governance.
- Black Box: Mr. Summers is responsible for the maintenance of the black box used in the lottery, a key symbol of tradition and the unsettling nature of the event.
- Controversial Reception: “The Lottery” was published in The New Yorker in 1948 and caused a significant stir among readers. Many were shocked by the dark themes and its commentary on blindly following traditions, with Mr. Summers representing the enforcer of these traditions.
- Ongoing Influence: “The Lottery” is widely regarded as a masterpiece of dystopian fiction, offering a critique of unquestioning obedience and mob mentality. Mr. Summers’ character serves as an embodiment of societal compliance.
Table:
| Name | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Summers | In charge of the lottery | Conducts the lottery proceedings and is a respected member of the community. |
| Symbolism | Mr. Summers’ name | Reflects the season of the lottery, connecting it to the harvest and cycles of renewal. |
| Community Leader | Mr. Summers’ civic duties | Besides the lottery, he engages in other community responsibilities, indicating his importance. |
| Black Box | Mr. Summers’ responsibility | Maintains the black box, a symbol of tradition and the unsettling nature of the lottery. |
| Controversial Reception | “The Lottery” publication | The story caused shock and sparked discussion among readers due to its dark themes. |
| Ongoing Influence | “The Lottery” as critical fiction | Considered a dystopian masterpiece, it criticizes blind adherence to tradition. |
In summary, Mr. Summers is portrayed as the authoritative figure in charge of the lottery in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” His character serves to represent the adherence to tradition and the consequences of blindly following societal customs, leaving readers contemplating the implications of their own actions and beliefs.
Other viewpoints exist
Mr. SummersSummers. The man who conducts the lottery. Mr. Summers prepares the slips of paper that go into the black box and calls the names of the people who draw the papers.
What the reader does know is that Mr. Summers is in charge of the lottery event and proceedings. It is unclear if he has any official government leadership role. The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.
Mr. Summers, who conducts the lottery every year, runs the coal company. Mr. Graves, who assists Mr. Summers, is the postmaster.
The lottery was conducted–as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program–by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. He was a round-faced, jovial man and he ran the coal business, and people were sorry for him, because he had no children and his wife was a scold.
The unofficial leader of the village and overseer of the lottery. Mr. Summers volunteers frequently in civic roles, organizing square dances, teen club, and the Halloween party.
The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen-age club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.
The lottery is led by a Mr Summers, who has an old black box.
The man who conducts the lottery. Mr. Summers prepares the slips of paper that go into the black box and calls the names of the people who draw the papers. The childless owner of a coal company, he is one of the village leaders.
Shirley Jackson does not tell the reader who is in charge of the town in her story “The Lottery.” What the reader does know is that Mr. Summers is in charge of the lottery event and proceedings. It is unclear if he has any official government leadership role.
The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.
The above quote makes it clear that Mr. Summers is in charge of the lottery. That line cracks me up every single time that I read it, though. It says that Mr. Summers conducts all of the civic activities because he has time and energy for them. I too would have the time and energy if being in charge of those things made me exempt from the lottery. I would do an awful lot of things if it guaranteed I could never be stoned to death.
Mr. Summers is instrumental in changing the “chips” that the lottery uses. He convinces everybody that strips of paper are better than the woo…
Video related “Who was in charge of the lottery in the story?”
This video discusses Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” and provides a plot summary. The story is set in a small village where the residents gather for an annual lottery. The atmosphere seems ordinary, but tension builds as the names are called. Old man Warner emphasizes the villagers’ dedication to tradition, and in the climax, the Hutchinson family is chosen. Tessie protests, but she is ultimately selected, and the crowd closes in on her. The story explores the dark forces of humanity and the mindless preservation of tradition. The worn-out box symbolizes the outdated nature of the lottery, highlighting the dangers of a society that resists change. It challenges the idea of a common humanity and the trust in established practices, raising unsettling questions about resistance to tyranny. Overall, the story serves as a chilling reminder of the limitations of inflexibility in the face of threatened traditions.
More interesting questions on the topic
Just so, Who is the leader in the lottery by Shirley Jackson? Answer to this: Joe Summers (the leader of The Lottery, Old Man Warner (The oldest man in town) and Tessie Hutchinson (the lucky winner of The Lottery). Mr. Summers was a round faced jovial businessman who runs a coal company, he is married to a very nagging wife, and had no children.
Who is the most important character in the lottery?
Response will be: Tessie Hutchinson
The most important characters in the story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson are Tessie Hutchinson, the “winner” of the lottery, Mr. Summers, the businessman who organises and conducts the lottery, and Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village.
Also question is, Why did tessie get stoned in the lottery?
In reply to that: In The Lottery, Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death, not because of what she did wrong, but because her selection allows the people in the village to take out their anger and brutality on her. Her death is not necessarily about her at all, but about the release the people experience through the stoning.
Who is the villain in the lottery? Tessie Hutchinson is the protagonist in "The Lottery". The lottery itself is the antagonist. Tessie demonstrates her frustration towards the event when she had to rush to the town square after realizing what day it was.
Subsequently, What is the lottery in this story?
In reply to that: The Lottery in this story refers to the tradition wherein the winner of the lottery would be stoned to death. This is divergent to what we first think when we hear the word lottery; winning a big amount of money. The story begins with a clear and thorough description of the town square in which the story is set.
Keeping this in view, Who is the main character in the lottery?
As a response to this: Although it is not fairly clear who the main character of “The Lottery” is, we learn that Testis Hutchinson ends up being the dynamic character of the story. When she arrives late to the lottery, admitting that she forgot what day it was, she immediately stands out from the other townsfolk as someone different.
Also question is, What happened to the woman selected by the lottery? The woman selected by the lottery to be sacrificed, she is stoned to death by the villagers at the very end of the story. Tessie arrives late at the lottery, saying she forgot the day… read analysis of Tessie Hutchinson The youngest Hutchinson child, Davy, is too young to understand the proceedings of the lottery.
What do the names of the families in the lottery mean? In reply to that: In The Lottery, the names of the families foreshadow what the lottery is about and what’s going to happen at the end of the story. Shirley Jackson gives the characters symbolic names that represent their role in her story. One of the names that Jackson uses is Summers.
Who wrote ‘the lottery’? Answer: ‘The Lottery’ is the best-known story of the American writer Shirley Jackson. Published in the New Yorker in 1948 and collected in The Lottery and Other Stories, the story is about a village where an annual lottery is drawn. However, the fate of the person who draws the ‘winning’ slip is only revealed at the end of the story in a dark twist.
What is the plot of the lottery by Shirley Jackson? The Lottery begins with this idyllic description of a pastoral morning in a sun-warmed village. Shirley Jackson’s deeply disturbing parable about the horrors of following orders and the darkness behind everyday American life was published on June 19, 1948 in The New Yorker.
Considering this, What happened to the woman selected by the lottery? The woman selected by the lottery to be sacrificed, she is stoned to death by the villagers at the very end of the story. Tessie arrives late at the lottery, saying she forgot the day… read analysis of Tessie Hutchinson The youngest Hutchinson child, Davy, is too young to understand the proceedings of the lottery.
In this regard, How do the characters talk about the lottery?
In reply to that: The reader gets the idea that perhaps there is a lighthearted event—a festival, a market—happening in the town rather than someone’s inevitable death. The characters treat the lottery like a civic duty of voting or jury duty. The characters talk about the event in the way we talk about national holidays or seasons. Mrs.