Symbolism has been scraping the surface of literature for many years, but you probably don't notice them unless you really dig deep behind the text. Symbolism can be anywhere, from the different objects in your room that represent a certain period, to the literature books you read in school. Symbolism is an object that represents something else. For example, in the short story "The Lottery", Mrs. Hutchinson was chosen for the lottery. The word “cage” is another word for box, and she just happened to have her life taken away from her by a sheet of paper in a box. The strange, short story of the "Lottery" is a story that should be read by many people for any desire to find symbolic references or simply to relax and read an interesting story with a twist. The lottery seems like something you'd like to win, but not in this twisted story! Winning this lottery will take your life in a painful death by being stoned. Every year the inhabitants of the city gather in a circle to draw a card. The card with a black dot chooses you as the city's scapegoat and, well, you'll have to stone yourself to follow the incompetent tradition of the people. They follow this tradition because it was passed down to them and taught to them as children. They don't know the whole back story, but all they know is that every year they kill someone for a good harvest. People don't want to take risks if they don't get food for a year, so they choose not to break the tradition. Like the characters in this story, they all have various symbolic references hidden behind almost all the characters. Mr. Summers, a very innovative person, no children, but a man who hosts and carries on the tradition... middle of paper... ned. It is a very symbolic ritual that represents the “harsh traditions of [their] society, which many people carry on without knowing it.” Harsh traditions are portrayed at the end of the story where Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, “It's not fair!” while they stone her to death.Munoz7Above all “The Lottery” is a short and symbolic story. The symbolism behind all these characters in the story is remarkable. Works Cited Cassel, Seth. Symbols in “The Lottery”. Flaming network. Litpick, LLC, November 2005. Web.TT March 2014. MA, Martin. "Literary Analysis Essay: 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson." Word print. NP, June 10, 2013 Web. March 17, 2014. SparkNotes Editors. “Lottery Themes. Patterns and symbols.” Notes of sparkle. BAN Inc. and web. March 17, 2014Schedat, Lucas. “Symbolism in Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'. “Reading reaction. NP January 26 2009.