When Shirley Jackson first published her short story “The Lottery,” it caused much controversy. It guaranteed great critical acclaim, but also brought threats to Jackson's life. The public was outraged that he had written such a violent story, which ended with the merciless killing of an innocent woman. The violence in response to the story ironically reflects the violence within and reveals a darker, but necessary, part of the human psyche. The characters in “The Lottery” require violent ritual to live a peaceful and happy life. The violent tradition is beneficial to the inhabitants of the country because it supports a healthy group psychology, is a conditioned norm of behavior for each generation, guarantees the well-being of the majority and is integrated into their religious faith. The city's collective state of mind is kept in balance by holding a lottery every year. Human beings are capable of great things, but the possibility of greatness is intertwined with the capacity for destruction. David Livingston Smith, professor of philosophy and director of the Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of New England, discusses the history of man in his book The Most Dangerous Animal: Human Nature and the Origins of War. He admits: “The noble achievements [of human beings] are only half the picture. They exist side by side with a number of less attractive characteristics” (41). Interspecies violence and cruelty are part of our most basic human nature and have proven inevitable throughout history. A prime example of man's ability against himself is the Holocaust, which has been theorized to be the symbolized subject of Jackson's story. However, "The Lottery" shows a healthy, structured... paper half, the well-being of the majority and an adopted religious belief. Works Cited Cooley, Charles Horton. Human nature and social order. New York: Schocken Books, 1964. Print.Hoffman, Louis, John L. Hoffman, Joy L. S. Hoffman, and Heatherlyn P. Cleare-Hoffman. “Culture, Religion and Spirituality: How Spirituality Saved Religion.” The Healing Power of Spirituality: How Faith Helps Humans Thrive. Santa Barbara (California): ABC-Clio, 2010. Print.Smith, David Livingstone. The Most Dangerous Animal: Human Nature and the Origins of War.New York: St. Martin's Press, 2007. Print.Smith, Joanne R., Michael A. Hogg, Robin Martin, Deborah J. Terry. “Uncertainty and the influence of group norms in the attitude-behavior relationship.” British Journal of Social Psychology 46.4 (2007): 769-792. Collection of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences. Network. April 12. 2012.