A lottery is a form of gambling in which players pay for a ticket and attempt to win prizes by matching numbers. The odds of winning vary based on the price of the ticket and the size of the prize. The majority of the money collected through lotteries is distributed as prizes, and a smaller percentage is used for administrative costs and profit sharing with state or corporate sponsors. The lottery is generally legal in most states, and people from any age or background can buy tickets. The first lotteries were organized in the 17th century to raise funds for a variety of public uses. Benjamin Franklin, for example, sponsored a lottery during the American Revolution to pay for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British. Today, 44 states and the District of Columbia operate lotteries, and people can play in any of them. The only states that do not participate are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Utah, and Nevada—which, like Las Vegas, is a casino paradise.
Shirley Jackson focuses on several significant issues in this short story. For one, she criticizes the blind following of outdated traditions and rituals. She also demonstrates that evil exists in even the most peaceful looking villages. In addition, she points out that human nature is weak and that the majority of people are willing to overlook violence when it is directed against them. This is seen in the way the villagers treat Mrs. Hutchinson and the fact that the lottery was just another thing that they did without thinking about its negative effects on their lives.