Lottery is a popular form of gambling that raises billions of dollars each year for governments and individuals. Despite its widespread popularity, lottery is not without critics, who argue that it is addictive and promotes greed, while others point to the negative consequences for poor people and problem gamblers.
Although the winning numbers are randomly chosen, players often believe they can improve their odds by choosing a winning strategy. For example, they may choose numbers that correspond to their birthdays or other lucky combinations. Others try to improve their chances by purchasing multiple tickets or repeating the same number each time. But these strategies are not necessarily effective, Kapoor says. In fact, he adds, “there’s no science to picking numbers, and no way to guarantee you will win.”
The main theme in Shirley Jackson’s short story is tradition. The way the act of lottery is carried out shows how a society’s traditions can override common sense. The characters in the story behave in a similar way, which leads to their unfortunate end. In addition to this, the story portrays how men mistreat women, presumably because of their cultural beliefs and practices. People in this society seem to condone such evil behaviors and do not think about their negative impacts on the community.