As someone who loves analyzing literature and grew up reading short stories, Shirley Jackson‘s The Lottery has always stuck with me as a masterclass in using irony to tell a terrifying tale. When I first read it as a middle schooler, I was shocked by the ending – and realized Jackson had cleverly layered in irony throughout to make this short story deliver a powerful punch.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll unravel the different types of irony Jackson employed in The Lottery and analyze how they critically highlight the underlying themes of conformity, tradition, and mob mentality. Let‘s dig into examples around character names, situational irony, dramatic irony and verbal irony to see why this story has become a classic.
Setting the Scene: Background on Shirley Jackson and The Lottery
First published in 1948 in The New Yorker, Shirley Jackson‘s The Lottery slowly builds suspense about a small town‘s annual lottery ritual before shocking readers with a violent, unexpected climax. It caused major controversy, with hundreds of upset readers writing to The New Yorker complaining about the gruesome conclusion. But that was exactly Jackson‘s intent – to disturb readers into thinking about how mob mentality and adherence to barbaric traditions can undermine morality.
Jackson used different layers of irony throughout the story to make this point. According to literary professor Mary Washington, "Jackson very skillfully uses irony and comedy to suggest the ways in which casual evil can subsist within everyday life." We‘ll analyze how she accomplished this irony and what effect it has.
Ironic Characters Represent Hidden Meanings
Jackson uses irony in character names to hint at deeper meanings and heighten the disturbing nature of the lottery.
Mr. Bentham: Utilitarianism Turned Upside Down
The enthusiastic lottery devotee Mr. Bentham has one of the most obviously ironic names, as critic John Lucas points out:
"Bentham is clearly named after the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham who argued that actions should be judged in terms of their consequences, particularly in terms of how much happiness they produce."
Yet far from producing happiness, Mr. Bentham‘s fervent participation in the lottery ultimately leads to his gruesome death by stoning at the hands of his own townspeople.
The philosophy of utilitarianism argues for "the greatest good for the greatest number of people." But the lottery only benefits the town temporarily before they resort again to fear and brutality. As Lucas states:
"What happens to Mr. Bentham at the end of the story clearly exposes the limitations of utilitarianism as a moral philosophy."
By naming a character destined to be sacrificed after a philosopher who promoted morality, utility and human rights, Jackson creates piercing irony around how we determine moral actions and confront the "shadow" side of group think.
The Hutchinsons: Ordinary Family Meets Horrific Fate
The surname Hutchinson implies openness, simplicity and innocence. Jackson writes that "the Hutchinsons had been using the woodlot for twenty years." On the surface, they appear just like any normal small-town family.
Yet despite seeming virtuous and ordinary, the Hutchinsons end up the random victims of the crowd‘s anonymous violence during the lottery. Literary critic Leonard Neufeldt notes:
"That the most commonplace of surnames, Hutchinson, should bear the final burden underscores the story‘s concern for what is ordinary, normal, and banal."
By giving such an everyday name to the family that ends up tortured and killed, Jackson creates a stark ironic contrast, reminding us no one is safe from a community driven by conformity rather than conscience.
The Pious Mrs. Delacroix
Delacroix means "of the cross" in French, evoking religious piety. However, Jackson‘s use of this name for a character complicit in mob murder is ironic.
According to author Adeline R. Tintner:
"Jackson is being ironic when she names normal, friendly Mrs. Delacroix, because there is nothing Christian about this woman when she picks up stones to kill."
This name symbolizes how religion can be used piously to mask cruelty, especially in the context of the systemic racism and oppression suffered by the protagonist.
Situational Irony: Everyday vs. Evil
Jackson sets up contradictory juxtapositions between the town‘s cheerful everyday routines and the underlying evil of the lottery ritual to heighten the situational irony.
The mood is casual, even festive. Kids are playing and townspeople are joking together. But their innocent small talk mirrors how people can conform to atrocities without questioning. Literary critic Christopher Lehmann-Haupt observes:
"The author‘s use of contrast between the casual conversational tone and the horrific events that are being described serves to underscore the absolute cruelty and thoughtless barbarity of which otherwise ordinary and sane people are capable."
The primitive, ritualistic way the lottery is conducted using stones contrasts starkly with the modern setting. Jackson writes:
"The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained."
The disintegration of the box and use of archaic stones highlights the irrationality of clinging to cruel traditions simply because they are long-standing.
Ultimately, the shocking twist where a supposedly normal town stones an innocent woman subverts our expectations, creating situational irony that forces readers to confront the reality below the surface.
Dramatic Irony Builds Unbearable Tension
Jackson leverages dramatic irony excellently in The Lottery where readers know more about the significance of events than the characters themselves do.
When Bill Hutchinson draws the fateful paper with the black spot, no one else knows yet that his family will meet a terrible end. However, Jackson makes it clear to readers, writing:
"Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on it…The crowd was quiet."
We experience that dramatic irony again when Tessie Hutchinson protests the unfairness of the draw but doesn‘t realize her family‘s tickets consign her to death. Jackson notes:
"‘It wasn‘t fair,‘ Tessie said. ‘You didn‘t give him time enough to take any paper he wanted.‘"
This dramatic irony builds almost unbearable tension as we just want to warn the characters of what is coming. It also exposes the ignorance involved when adhering to deadly traditions no one thinks to question.
Verbal Irony in Dialogue
Jackson uses verbal irony throughout the townspeople‘s dialogue to underscore how what is said can starkly contrast with reality.
When Bill draws the black-spotted paper, Mr. Summers tells the crowd: "All right, folks…Let‘s finish quickly." The irony is clear to readers as nothing about what comes next is "all right." Critic Greg Johnson observes:
"His choice of words are verbally ironic in that they conceal the horrible reality of what is about to happen as it clashes with the literal meaning of his words."
Likewise, the phrase Mrs. Delacroix uses to comfort Tessie – "There now, it will be over quickly" – lingers ironically in the readers‘ minds even after the stoning has ended. Johnson notes this "creates a chilling verbal irony that contributes to the horror in this story."
Broader Thematic Ironies
Stepping back, the main ironic themes Jackson weaves through the layers of character, situational and verbal irony in The Lottery are:
-
Conformity: How does a collective lose touch with morality and compassion? Jackson exposes this through the tension between conformity and autonomy.
-
Fate and chance: Victims are chosen randomly, yet it seems fate is predetermined by complying with the ritual. This highlights the absurdity of persecution.
-
Appearances vs. reality: The town appears normal, but the veneer of peacefulness obscures the tragedy and dysfunction at its core.
-
Time and progress: Though the town is modern, clinging to baseless traditions leads to regression and inhumanity.
According to Jackson herself:
“I hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to shock the story’s readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives.”
Jackson‘s layered use of irony ultimately forces readers to confront complacency and question the latent mob mentality that subsists beneath conformist rituals and traditions.
Parting Thoughts
Shirley Jackson‘s brilliant yet disturbing story has become famous for its unsettling irony and for vilifying the darker side of human nature through allegory. I hope by diving deep on the ironic characters, situations, dialogue and themes in The Lottery, you have a renewed appreciation for Jackson‘s masterful storytelling and use of irony to shock our consciences.
For more perspectives, I recommend analyzing other critics‘ interpretations, as well as Jackson‘s own commentaries on what she aimed to accomplish through this controversial tale. Let me know in the comments your thoughts on the key ironies Jackson employed and if you think the story still resonates in today‘s world!
