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In Shirley Jackson\“s famous short story \“The Lottery,\“ conformity plays a crucial role in maintaining the brutal tradition of the annual lottery. The villagers unquestioningly participate in the ritual, demonstrating how social pressure and group mentality can override individual moral judgment.
The story begins with villagers gathering as if for a festive event, showing their conformity to social expectations. When Mr. Summers arrives with the black box, everyone accepts its authority without question. The lottery process itself requires conformity - families must draw slips of paper together, and no one challenges the rules.
Mrs. Hutchinson\“s transformation is particularly telling. Initially, she conforms to the ritual without protest, even joking with other villagers. Only when her family is selected does she begin to question the process, crying \“It isn\“t fair!\“ Yet even in her protest, the other villagers conform to the group\“s decision, ultimately participating in her stoning.
This mirrors aspects of Pakistani cultural traditions where community conformity often shapes individual behavior. In many Pakistani villages, traditional practices and social norms are maintained through collective participation, similar to the lottery tradition. The pressure to conform to community expectations can be powerful, whether in religious observances, family customs, or social rituals.
Old Man Warner represents the voice of tradition, reinforcing conformity through his criticism of change. His statement \“There\“s always been a lottery\“ illustrates how tradition justifies conformity, much like how \“this is how we\“ve always done it\“ functions in many cultural contexts, including Pakistani village life where elders often uphold traditional practices.
The story\“s chilling conclusion demonstrates the dangerous potential of conformity when no one is willing to break from tradition, even when it involves violence. This serves as a powerful warning about the importance of critical thinking and individual conscience in both literary and real-world cultural contexts. |
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发表于 2025-11-8 20:01:03