“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, published in 1948, is set in a small New England village. At first glance it would seem that the lottery that took place in the village was a family tradition that had been carried on for many years. However, upon closer inspection, it appears that “family friendly” may be the wrong term to use to describe the lottery due to the nature of what takes place during this tradition. So the question remains: 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 of whether kids would participate or not. It was almost as if the children were born into this long-standing tradition. The lottery always took place when “school was out for the summer” for the children, so that families could participate together (Jackson 373). When it comes to the lottery, children participate just as much as adults. Children often ran around “selecting the smoothest and roundest stones” to use at the appropriate time in the lottery just as their parents and other villagers would (Jackson 373). Another way children are involved in the lottery is the actual drawing process. In the event that the child's family was the one chosen to offer the sacrifice, the child or children of that family would each draw a slip of paper from the lottery box to see who would be chosen. While the first way children were involved would probably be exciting for them, 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, other than the fact that they have the opportunity to play... middle of paper... it should not be considered as family friendly an event as it presents it Jackson. A family friendly event should be wholesome, wholesome fun that teaches and implements correct morals and values, the lottery does not do this in any way, shape or form. Works Cited Coulthard, AR "Jackon's The Lottery". Explainer. 48.3 (1990): 226. Print.Du Bose, Thomas. “The Lottery”. Masterplots, fourth edition (2010): 1-3. Literary reference center. Network. 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 Mrs. Hutchinson: Meaning and Context in 'The Lottery'". Essays in Literature 15.2 (1988): 259-265. Print.Yarmove, Jay A. “Jackson’s The Lottery.” Explicator 52.4 (1994): 242. Print.