Short Story Post- The Lottery vs. Human Sacrifice

An example of an Aztec human sacrifice ritual

Human sacrifice is known as the giving of life to a superior power in return for goods of any form.  Modern day society has come to believe that the practice of human sacrifice is an absurd idea. Although many cultures in all parts of the world still practice this abstract ritual. The short story, "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson and the newspaper article, "Human sacrifices 'on the rise in Uganda' as witch doctors admit to rituals," share the common theme of society continuing traditions, ideas and practices in fear and dependency on a superior power. In both texts, human sacrifices are made in desire to return prosperity and luxury. The short story, "The Lottery," is about a small town that annually performs a human sacrifice by stoning one who gets 'the lottery,' to death. In the story's case, a character named Tessie Hutchinson receives the lottery, and is stoned to death by the towns people. In the society of the story, villagers defies to accept letting go of  'the lottery' tradition. As said by Old Man Warner, "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good  enough  for them.  Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.'First thing you know we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery..." Since he is the oldest man in the story's society, the villagers follow his words. The society practices the ritual in return for crops for them to survive off. They are afraid to let go of their traditions, unaware of what might happen if they do. In the article, "Human sacrifices 'on the rise in Uganda' as witch doctors admit to rituals," Ugandan doctors practice witch-craft by sacrificing human body parts, given by clients, in return for a life of prosperity to their clients. The article states, "According to officials trying to tackle it, the crime is directly linked to rising levels of development and prosperity - and an increasing belief that witchcraft can help people get rich quickly." This quote states that the Ugandan tradition of human sacrifice benefit their society with a luxurious life. Whether the sacrifice carries out or not, the society does not consider the number of lives taken away for the benefit of a few. The society has been so caught up on their traditions, that they do not consider the human life a valuable, significant gift. These two texts clearly state that both societies continue their traditions, practices, and beliefs in fear and dependency on a greater power. If human sacrifice is done because life is the greatest offer to a superior power, then traditions should consider the numerous lives that are gifted by a superior power, for life is the most valuable possession some one could ever have.

References:
Image-http://itthing.com/the-most-bizarre-rituals-in-human-history (Retrieved on March 10, 2011) 

Newspaper Article-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/uganda/6944292/Human-sacrifices-on-the-rise-in-Uganda-as-witch-doctors-admit-to-rituals.html (Retrieved on March 10, 2011)