“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, published in 1948, takes place in a small New England village. At first glance, it would seem that the lottery organized in the village is a family tradition that has been carried on for many years. However, upon closer inspection, it seems that "family-friendly" is not the right term to use to describe the lottery due to the nature of what happens during this tradition. The question therefore arises: is the lottery really a family tradition in the village? The lottery tradition has been around for so long that it was never a question whether children would participate or not. It was almost as if children were being born into this long-standing tradition. The lottery was always held when “school was out for the summer” for children so that families could participate together (Jackson 373). When it comes to the lottery, children participate as much as adults. Little boys often ran around “selecting the smoothest, roundest stones” to use at the appropriate time in the lottery, just as parents and other villagers would do (Jackson 373). Another way children are involved in the lottery is through the actual drawing process. In the event that the child's family is the one chosen to offer the sacrifice, the child or children of that family should each draw a piece of paper from the lottery box to see who would be chosen. Although the first way the kids were involved would probably be exciting for the kids, this way is just sad and terrifying. However, since they are children, it is probably unlikely that they will understand exactly what is going on in the lottery in the first place, other than the fact that they get to play in the middle of a sheet of paper. should not be considered a family event as Jackson presents it. A family event should be wholesome entertainment that teaches and implements proper morals and values, the lottery somehow doesn't do that. Works Cited Coulthard, AR “Jackson’s The Lottery.” Explainer. 48.3 (1990): 226. Print. Du Bose, Thomas. “The Lottery”. Masterplots, fourth edition (2010): 1-3. Literary reference center. Internet. April 15, 2014.Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”. Literature The human experience. Richard Abcarian, Marvin Klotz and Samuel Cohen. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin, 2013. 373-379. Print.Oehlschlaeger, Fritz. “The Stoning of Mistress Hutchinson: Meaning and Context in “The Lottery”” Essays in Literature 15.2 (1988): 259-265. Print. Yarmove, Jay A. “Jackson's The Lottery.” Explainer 52.4 (1994): 242. Print.