Conformity

Conformity in society allows for order and obedience but it is when the conformity is

broken that society grows and changes for the better. Society as a whole needs conformity to

maintain the values and morals that has made the society survive. In “The Lottery”, “A and P”,

and “The Story of an Hour” the societies demand its people to follow traditions and values

brought on by past generations. The characters in the stories confront the conformity in their

societies and leads to ridicule and cruel reactions by the societies. These stories show that people

will follow the simplest but at the same time harshest traditions to maintain a basic way of life.

“The Lottery” presents a society that holds on to the old tradition of past generations just

to maintain conformity over the life of one of the society’s own. “The Lottery” shows that this

society would sacrifice one to save the lives of many. Shirley Jackson writes, ...