Reader-Response Analysis in The Lottery Short Story by Shirley Jackson

Abstract

This reader response analysis explores Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" through the reader's perspective and interpretation. This study investigates the dynamic and subjective nature of reading, recognizing the reader's role in actively constructing meaning. The main characters, including Tessie Hutchinson, Mr. Summers, and Old Man Warner, examined based on reader responses, reveal insights into themes of tradition, authority, and resistance to change. The characters' personalities are closely tied to their roles in the community, thus influencing the reader's interpretation. Through qualitative research methods, including interviews, book excerpts, and surveys, this research captures how readers discover the factors of the main characters' characters. This analysis emphasizes the importance of reader response theory in understanding the diverse ways individuals connect to and derive meaning from literary works, ultimately contributing to an understanding of  “The Lottery”. From the research results, it was concluded that the analysis of readers' responses to Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" revealed a complex interaction between the reader's interpretation and the character's personality, emphasizing the themes of blind obedience to tradition, the dangers of fanaticism, and the resulting cruelty.