Question

How does the detail "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles" contribute to to the text (Paragraph 70)

Answer 1

In The Lottery (1948) written by Shirley Jackson, the detail "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles" (D.) stresses that everyone participates in the lottery, even Mrs. Hutchinson's son.

The short story describes how the inhabitants of a small town carry out an annual tradition known as "the lottery" to ensure a good harvest. In this excerpt, the author highlights that even children take part in this ritual. Davy, who apparently has an innocent soul, takes part in the stoning of his mother. Therefore, although Davy does not fully understand what he is doing, he is as responsible as the other people that participate in the stoning of murdering his own mother. In that way, the writer remarks that not only adults but also children have been corrupted in that society.