The lottery, in general, is a system in which participants pay to play for a chance to win money or another prize. It is a form of gambling, and as such it is generally illegal in most places. But it also raises public funds for a wide variety of projects. It has been used to build churches, public buildings, and even schools. In fact, many of the country’s most famous universities owe their beginnings to lotteries.
The first state-sponsored lotteries began in the mid-twentieth century, when states were seeking solutions to budgetary crises that would not enrage tax-averse voters. The appeal of the lottery was that it lowered taxes and produced substantial profits, which could be spent on needed public works. Eventually, the practice spread to the entire country.
Regardless of how the lottery is designed, there are a few basic requirements that must be in place to make it successful. A prize pool must be established, the costs of running the lottery must be deducted, and a percentage must go as profit or revenue for the sponsor. The remainder of the prize pool is then available to the winners.
Jackson’s story is a frightening look at the ways people treat each other, despite their outward appearance of friendliness. The villagers in the story seem to care little about whether their actions are evil or not, and they continue on with the lottery tradition even after it has been shown to be harmful.