2) Traditions are rituals or beliefs that connect a culture with its past. Adults feel that it is very important to follow these established customs and cannot even imagine rebelling against them although they may be hurtful in some ways. Shirley Jackson explores this premise in her short story ‘The Lottery’ where the oldest man in the village had been taking part in the ritual of the lottery for the past 77 years and his insistence about the practicing of the tradition for a more productive harvest and find the abolishment of the tradition foolish. Tradition is not easily broken as it had become a habitual practice, it has meaning underneath the practice and afraid of changing the tradition.
Tradition is not easily broken as it has been practiced for a long time and it had become part and parcel of life. Most traditions had been practiced for centuries, carried down from generation to generations. These are taken in as a time honored practice and the greatest treasure of a nation. Mr. Summers called his own name and then stepped forward precisely and selected a slip from the box. Then he called, "Warner." "Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery," Old Man Warner said as he went through the crowd. "Seventy-seventh time." As Old Man Warner had been participating in the ritual of “The Lottery” for the seventy seventh time, it showed that the history of the tradition is so long. Although we, the younger generation might not understand the tradition or the tradition does not make sense, we have to abide, pay respect and preserve it. Traditions which had been practiced for a long time had become part of our life. Hence, it is not easily broken. Moreover, traditions which are currently in practice do reflect values or have a meaning behind the ritual. The practice of traditions make life more meaningful. There is no human activity without tradition. According to Mr Warner, the tradition of practicing The Lottery is done to ensure a bumper harvest for the year. In the past, they believed that there is a need for someone to self-sacrifice, a scapegoat to ensure a productive harvest of agricultural goods. They also think that the person who won “The Lottery” should have the pride in doing it. This showed that there is always a meaning behind those traditions carried out. Their main intention or objective is to obtain a large crop harvest for the sake of the villagers. Hence, these traditions is not easily broken as they carries meaning behind those traditions practiced. In addition, traditions are not easily broken due to the fear of change. It is human’s nature to be superstitious and afraid of the miserable consequences that may ensued if the tradition is not followed. Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village, also represents the theme of tradition. When Mr. and Mrs. Adams suggest to Warner that some other villages have already given up the lottery or are thinking about doing so, he replies with, 'Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves . There's always been a lottery." Old Man Warner cannot give a solid reason as to why the lottery practice has to continue, other than to argue its existential reason as being justification enough. Hence, fear of change often locks a person into the prison of habit and this is the reason traditions are not easily broken in the society. As traditions had been practiced or passed down for a long time, people got used to the practice, people tend to realize that there is a meaning for practicing the tradition and the fear of change as part of human nature are the main reasons for traditions being not easily broken. Nevertheless, the society shouldn’t follow the crowd. Instead, a good understanding of the tradition is needed so that we will not blindly abide the traditions although it is inhuman to practice it. Therefore, traditions are not easily broken.