The lottery is a game of chance in which participants win prizes by matching numbers. There are many different types of lottery games, including financial lotteries and sport lotteries. Prizes may be cash, goods or services. Some states or organizations sponsor lotteries to raise money for various purposes, such as education, welfare programs, and public buildings. Others use the proceeds for entertainment or recreational activities.
The word “lottery” comes from the Dutch noun lotte, meaning fate or fortune. It was common in the seventeenth century for Dutch towns to organize lotteries to raise money for charity and to build town fortifications. These early lotteries proved very popular and were hailed as a painless form of taxation.
In 1964, New Hampshire became the first state to establish a modern lottery, attracting the attention of skeptics who worried that it would lead to uncontrollable spending and even more tax revolts. Yet in the late twentieth century, the number of people who played lottery games exploded. Large jackpots fueled the growth, especially when they were advertised as newsworthy.
The events in Shirley Jackson’s story show that humans are deceitful by nature. The villagers do not think that they are committing an evil act when they take part in the lottery, but it is clear that they are. The name Mr. Summers and his assistant Mr. Graves symbolize the villagers’ wickedness. They are not afraid of losing their lives and they are willing to risk it for a little hope of winning.