A lottery is a form of gambling in which tickets are sold for a chance to win prizes. A prize may be cash or goods. The first recorded lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 15th century for purposes such as town fortifications and helping the poor.
Lotteries enjoy broad public support, in part because they can raise substantial sums for public benefits without imposing burdensome taxes on lower-income individuals. They have also proven to be remarkably popular even in times of relatively good state fiscal health, suggesting that the public’s desire for an opportunity to win large amounts of money is an attractive feature of any lottery program.
Despite the popularity of lotteries, however, they are also subject to criticism. Critics charge that lottery advertising is often deceptive, providing misleading information about the odds of winning a prize (lottery jackpots are typically paid in annual installments over 20 years, and this can significantly erode the current value of a prize); inflating the amount of money that can be won through the lottery (prizes are usually set at levels far above what would be expected by the number of entrants); and/or portraying lotteries as beneficial to the community by referring to their ability to raise funds for education or other public needs.
Ultimately, Jackson condemns the people of the village for their hypocrisy and evil nature. She does so by using several remarkable characterization methods, including setting and the actions of characters. For example, Tessie’s resistance to the lottery begins with her late arrival at the event and continues with her refusal to pick a ticket (pp. 83-85).