A lottery is an arrangement in which prizes are allocated by chance. In the case of a simple lottery, this is done by drawing lots. In the case of a complex lottery, this is done by a process that relies wholly on chance (for example, using a random number generator). In either event, the results are entirely dependent on luck and, therefore, it cannot be reasonably expected to prevent a significant proportion of people who wish to participate from doing so.
The short story, by Jackson, begins in a bucolic setting of an unnamed small town where the annual lottery ritual is taking place. Children who have recently been on summer break are the first to assemble, followed by adults. They exhibit the stereotypical normalcy of small-town life, warmly chatting and gossiping. They all know, however, that their odds of winning are long. Nevertheless, they play.
There are a variety of ways lotteries can be organized, but all have at least four common elements. First, there must be some means of recording the identities and amounts staked by each bettor. This may be as simple as writing one’s name on a ticket that is deposited with the lottery organization for subsequent shuffling and selection. It could also be as sophisticated as purchasing a numbered receipt with the knowledge that this will be redeemed for the prize at some later date.
A second element is some mechanism for pooling the money staked by all bettor-participants. This may be as simple as collecting and pooling all the receipts or it may involve a chain of agents who pass the tickets until they are cash in at an official lottery office. Then the money paid for the tickets is “banked.”
Lastly, there must be some way to determine the winners. Depending on the culture, this may be as simple as announcing the names of the successful bettor or it may be more complicated. Normally, some percentage of the total stakes goes as costs for organizing and promoting the lottery, with the remaining portion awarded to the winners.
For many, the lottery is just a fun thing to do-an opportunity to fantasize about wealth for only a few bucks. But for some-often those with the lowest incomes-it’s a serious budget drain. It’s no wonder that critics call the lottery a disguised tax on those who can least afford it.