Why is it significant that the villagers have forgotten the
ritual but remember to use stones?
Read the passage from "The Lottery."
Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost
the original black box, they still remembered to use
stones. The pile of stones the boys had made earlier
was ready, there were stones on the ground with the
blowing scraps of paper that had come out of the box.
Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to
pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar.
"Come on," she said. "Hurry up."
It suggests that people in society often do things
without the intent to harm people.
It symbolizes that people unconsciously follow
society's conventions even when they are unethical.
O It suggests that most people in society are aware of
the reasons for their actions.
It symbolizes that most people in society are willing
to sacrifice their happiness for others.