This short essay will analyze the depiction of violence in Shirley Jackson's Lottery. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The late 1940s were a great time to be alive, it had simple connections that made every day brighter. Dancing teenagers, playful children, and gossipy wives filled the city, all waiting for this little black box that was their penny or tradition. In The Lottery Shirley Jackson uses tone and symbolism to illustrate acts of violence. As the story begins, the children of the town are playing and the adults are all gathered around talking harmlessly to each other. Jackson describes the children as "indulging in noisy play" and "filling their pockets with rocks," indicating that the children are having a great time and without worries. At the same time, the men in the story “talk about dinner tables and rain” while “examining their children” while waiting for the women to come and stay with them before the big town meeting. It seems that everything is fine in the city, everyone is uncomfortable inside. However, the city maintains its serious appearance to demonstrate that all families thrive. The city gathered around the square when Mr. Summers entered it. He was a man “who had time and energy to devote to civic activities” and “carried the black wooden box”. The black wooden box is a symbol of the life of the people living in this city. "The black box became dirtier every year", people's lives get worse every year with the lottery, like the black box that can't be renewed. At the end of the story the author uses the tone of intensity to demonstrate the beginning of violence. Nancy was part of the chosen family "and her school friends were breathing heavily as she went along" because they didn't want her to get hurt. Luckily for them she wasn't chosen by the lottery, but her mother Tessie was. Tessie was “breathless” when the violence or lottery began. Then, as she let out one last intense scream before "they were upon her." Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, in The Lottery Jackson demonstrates acts of violence through tone and symbolism. Instead of writing about the violent stoning that took place in the city, he used the tone to show people's nerves and how nervous they were. The symbolism of the box is the part of their life that they don't want to see all the time but they have to use it once a year, but each year is worse than the previous one. The story ends with Tessie begging for mercy and stating that the lottery isn't fair. The reader may come to the conclusion that she was stoned to death by her neighbors, friends and family.