The Dangers of Blind Obedience Exposed in the Lottery Most of us obey every day without thinking. People follow the company dress code, state and federal laws, and supposed rules of courtesy. Those who disobey are usually frowned upon or even reprimanded. But has it ever occurred to you that in some cases disobedience might be the best choice? In her talk "Group Minds", Doris Lessing discusses these dangers of obedience, which are demonstrated in Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery". In "The Lottery", the villagers describe Lessing's observation that "it is the hardest thing in the world". hold an individual dissident opinion, as a member of a group” (334). The villagers also show, quite dramatically, how being a blind follower of a group can be dangerous. As Lessing points out, "the majority will continue to insist and after a period of exasperation the minority will fall into line" (334). This very feeling constitutes a huge part of the dangers inherent in obeying a group. Group Behavior in “The Lottery” w...