The lottery is a tradition in many places. It is a form of gambling that is promoted by the state government to raise money for the public. This has been a popular form of raising funds for centuries, starting in the Middle Ages. It is a way of getting money without having to tax people. The story shows how some traditions get carried on for years without being examined or changing. Those that question or change them are seen as crazy. In a modern society, this is not a good thing. Traditions should be questioned and changed when they do not work.
The story starts with a man, Mr. Summers, carrying out a black box. He stirs up the papers inside of it. He tells the villagers that this is a long standing tradition. He then begins to draw.
When he draws, he pulls out a ticket that says 112. The villagers cheer. They assume that she will win the prize. They do not realize that the odds are actually 18,009,460:1.
Lotteries are considered a painless form of collecting taxes and have been used to fund many projects in the past, including building the British Museum and the reconstruction of bridges in the American colonies. It is important for states to ensure that the odds are not too high or low in order to keep people interested in playing. It is also important to make sure that the profits are being spent on something that will benefit the general public, such as education.