stones
You have to wonder about the many biblical references - stones for stoning, which was a common way for the designed punishment of death to be inflicted; the black box and the Arc of the Covenant; and of course the sacrifice of a life, much like a goat that was set to wander the desert as a sacrifice for he people's sin (Leviticus 16:21-22.
Mrs. Graves said. She watched while Mr. Graves came around from the side of the box, greeted Mr. Summers gravely
Graves and gravely - It would be an interesting study to see the number of times that words that deal with death are used in the story.
Old Man Warner snorted. “Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “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 hat 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.
This seems to be one of the few passages that MIGHT discuss the purpose of the lottery (or at least their thinking at one time), but it also shows that while there may have been a purpose in this long ago that while the tradition was passed down, they forgot to pass down the meaning or the reason for the tradition. Not that this is something to pass down...but you know.
time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.
This reminds me of our practice of having a meal for attendees after a funeral - the idea that life does go on, even in the midst of pain and suffering.
some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 20th, but in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours,
You have to wonder why some people - especially those who may think the lottery is beyond being useful - might not want to entertain the thought of moving to a large city. That would certainly increase the likelihood of being selected for the lottery.
civic activities.
By using his term, there is the suggestion that this is done for he welfare or betterment of the town, as it joins the list of other things that Mr. Summers. Too, later in the story, when Old Man Warner talks about how there has been the idea to stop the lotteries, he calls those who think this "crazy old fools" and say that nothing but trouble will come if that happens.