The Lottery 1

Marxist Analysis of the story The Lottery

Ameer Hamza (13181502-039)

The University of the Gujarat

The Lottery 2

Abstract

The Lottery is a short story written by Shirley Jackson (1949) in the New York. The story

describes a story in the small town. The Lottery concerns the nature of tradition. This story is

showing the tenet of the Marxism theories have or have not the difference between the

upper and lower class. In the story two main characters make the leader class Mr. Summer

and Mr. Graves. As part the part of upper class they control all the mills of working class.

Introduction

The Lottery is the best example of the Marxist theory of Karl Marx. The Lottery is

Horrifying example of what happens when society can only distinguish two classes working

and wealthy leader class. The story made clear difference between higher class and lower

class and effects on society due to class difference. Mr. Summer being the most powerful

man in the village use both political and economical way for the lower working class.

Research question

 How rich people influence the poor people in the story?

 How Jackson shows the exploitation of poor people?

 Role of RSA in this story?

Background

According to Peter Kosonko A Marxist critical analysis of the story which argues that the

Lottery story serves the repressive ideological function of pouring the social body of all

resistance so that business to suppress dominate class. The basic function of RSP is to

intervene and act in favor of the rolling class.

ISA (control the system through informal way for example family, media, religion)

Framework

Marxist theory is given by the Karl Marx in mid nineteen century according to Karl Marx

economic power is the motive behind all the social, political activities including education,
The Lottery 3

philosophy, religion, government and media and so on. They emphasis on the concept of

have or have not the upper and lower class

 A class defined by the relation of its member to the mean of production

 The preliterate beings power by a revolution

 According to Marx and Lenin the revolution must be violent because the

bourgeois won't give up power by electoral means

Data Analysis

According to my research the story serves the function of all essays in this story. Mr.

Summer is indicating the RSP function. Althouser purpose the theory of ideology RSP and

ISP. Althouser regards the state as repressive operates which is used by the ruling class as a

tool.

Conclusion

The story Lottery tells us what can happen when tradition are not question and it goes

from generation to generation and how the people of upper class effect the lower class.

Marxist theory is true and Lottery is the best example of Marxist theory