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Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date Significance of Traditions The ancient societies were bound by cultural traditions which they had to abide by. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is one of the short stories whose storyline relies on the observance of the cultural traditions. The town from which the story is set has always had an annual ritual which is referred to as the lottery. Ursula K. Le Guin’s story, “The ones who walk away from Omelas” also has a similar connotation to the observance of cultural traditions among the ancient societies. Guin narrates the story of the city of Omelas where the happiness of the dwellers was dependent on the suffering of a young child who was locked up in a cage. This essay explores the significance of traditions in both the “Lottery” and “The ones who walk away from Omelas.” Cultural rituals in most ancient societies date back to the period before Christ. Some communities have managed to cling to these traditions till date. Jackson’s “The Lottery” narrates how a particular small town used to conduct the annual lottery ritual. Everyone was supposed to attend the ceremony was started. The fact that there was even a precise date, 27th of June, when the ceremony was supposed to take place shows that it was a renowned ritual and it could not be ignored. Old Man Warner warns the town against going against the traditions of their forefathers. Mr. Summers, the chief organizer of the lottery, has to consult before making any decisions and changes regarding the manner in which the function should be carried out. Other towns in Jackson’s short story were experiencing a myriad of problems and
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