The Importance of Little Davy Hutchinson in Jackson's "The Lottery".
From the youngest age, important beliefs about others and their place in the community are passed on, including traditions and prejudices. In "The Lottery" (reprinted in Edgar V. Roberts, Henry E. Jacobs, Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 6th ed. Upper Saddle, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000: 268-273) Little Davy Hutchinson is the person by whom Shirley Jackson shows that the importance of the lottery surpasses any one person, even the relationship between a mother and a little boy. .
The story opens on a "clear and sunny" summer morning. Davy and the children are seen gathering stones, placing them in big piles on each corner of the square. The boys choose the "roundest and smoothest stones" (268) to be used, showing that this is a special occasion, not any regular stone will do. The boys begin to play little wars while they are waiting for the lottery to begin. This playful activity shows that what they are about to do is not out of the ordinary.
The families are units of the community. As a community, they participate in this annual event. The lottery is as much a part of their lives as "the square dances, the teen-age club, the Halloween program" (268). Even though they do not remember the origins or purpose of the lottery, the traditions are important to their lives and identity as a community. Davy, and the other young people, in the story are important in the passing on of the tradition. .
The need to keep the tradition of the lottery is an emotional one, as is heard in Old Man Warner's words. He warns against giving up traditions, "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- (271). Change to the lottery is not accepted, as it challenges the norms of the community. Warner's words also underscore the importance of all the children, including Davy, having an ownership in the lottery.
