SAVE THE CHILDREN!

A critical essay
Presented to
Prof. Eleonora B. Padilla

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the course

MAEL 510 (Literary Theories and Criticisms)

By
ASLE JOYCE PAMEROYAN FLORES

March 23, 2013

SAVE THE CHILDREN! A critical analysis of the short story, The Lottery written by
Shirley Jackson, using the Reader-response lens.

I went over the obituary of Shirley Jackson first, and when I read that The Lottery was
actually a story of an annual village lottery to determine which one will be stoned to death, I
immediately thought, MORBID. I wish Ill be able to sleep soundly tonight.
If I had not read the obituary first, I would not have thought that the lottery that all
the villagers were looking forward to every single bloody year was going to be as sinister as
what was going to happen in the end. As I was reading through it, I was hoping that it would
not be as gruesomely told as I was thinking. It was only the suspense in choosing that was
killing me.
What were the people in the village thinking when they decided to make this lottery
an annual affair? Maybe before they did this there was someone in their village who did
something very wicked and they stoned him/her to death too. But I dont really see the point
why they had to do it every year, especially, when there could be a possibility that one of
their families was going to be sacrificed. I would escape, flee to another planet if I could, and
live in peace, knowing that such an evil thing would not be able to corrupt my children. What
kind of people would do this in real life? People who sold their souls to the devil, thats who.
This was just like in the ancient times in the bible where parents would sacrifice their
children to Baal. They would tie their children to a metal structure, light up the bottom of it
so that the heat will distribute, and worship their god to the beat of drums so they would

not hear their childrens wails and shrieks. I mean, where is the love in this world, really?
Dont people have conscience anymore?
I am not a sadist, and I have always abhorred people who physically hurt other
people, especially children and in those instances, my heart really goes out to the child. I
once saw a street child, about 1-2 years old, on the stairs that lead to the doors of Gaisano,
who was crying. At that moment, I had wanted to comfort him, and give him everything that
he could possibly need just so hell grow up feeling loved and cared for, instead of
traumatized and forever be unsure if there was or will ever be justice in this world. That
night, and some other nights after that incident, I was not able to sleep until I have prayed
and cried for the children of the world, that Jesus will deliver them from all the evil things
that are happening, or that is about to happen.
So when I read that the family that was chosen had a little child, I immediately
thought about my own son. I thought at first that it was going to be one of the children who
will be doomed, and I was hoping that little Davy would not be chosen, but I was also scared
if anybody would be chosen at all. It was really disheartening to read that the father would
concede to such decision, that he would go along with it, when he knew that it could be him,
or his wife, or one of his children.
I was relieved that the children, especially little Davy, were not chosen, but I was also
shaken and terrified that the mother was the one to be sacrificed. If, God forbid, I was
placed in that position, I dont know what I would have done since I am also scared of
experiencing physical pain, myself. I would feel relieved knowing that it wouldnt be any of

my children, that I would be willing to sacrifice myself just as long as it would not be any of
them. But at the same time, I would be terrified at what was going to happen to me, or
maybe I would wonder if the pain is going to be intense, or short-lived, or if the pain was
going to be prolonged, or if death would come soon. I wonder if Mrs. Hutchinson felt the
same way as I would have, or if she would still be thinking of the unfairness of the process.
But if it should be her now, and she thought that her children would be safe, who can
say for certain that it would not be the Hutchinsons next year? Or the year after that? Or
ever? Or that it still would not be a child who will be put to death next? What happens to the
families who have just lost their loved ones? Do they mourn, too? How do they move on?
How many have they stoned already? Were any of them children? Why havent the parents
done anything about this? What would happen to the children if both their parents were
dead? What if they were only babies? Gosh, my mind rushes to the possibilities of the future.
And if I keep thinking about it, I might be completely depressed and worried for my child and
for all the children of the world.
Take this, someone even gave little Davy a few pebbles. To stone his mother to death
with! Poor kid.
I really hope and pray that I will be able to sleep soundly tonight.