The Lottery and Other Stories Summary and Analysis

Part II Inscription

A quotation from Joseph Glanvil’s Sadducismus Triumphatus highlights the beginning of Section II of the collection. The quotation discusses the impossibility of understanding the motivations and genuine intentions of other people.

Analysis

Sadducismus Triumphatus, by Joseph Glanvil, was first published in 1681 and discussed the presence of witchcraft in England. Glanvil’s extremely influential book sought to prove the existence of witchcraft, providing background information and supposedly concrete examples of witches and their actions.

By placing this particular quote at the beginning of this section, Jackson calls attention to the potential for sinister actions and motivations lurking beneath the veneer of civilized society and suburbia.