Thursday 12 December 2013

What's the adage which Old Man Warner shares about the value of keeping the lottery?

The ancient adage which Old Man Warner cites that pertains to the value of retaining the lottery is "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon."


Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village, is representative of those people who blindly follow a tradition and find value in this custom because it has lasted. He tells the others to whom he recites the old adage, "There's always been a lottery." Moreover, Warner believes soundly in...

The ancient adage which Old Man Warner cites that pertains to the value of retaining the lottery is "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon."


Old Man Warner, the oldest man in the village, is representative of those people who blindly follow a tradition and find value in this custom because it has lasted. He tells the others to whom he recites the old adage, "There's always been a lottery." Moreover, Warner believes soundly in this ancient rite performed to ensure a good harvest. He adds that without a lottery, the people of his community may soon find themselves eating "stewed chickweed and acorns."


Such a character as Warner cannot be swayed to any other way of thinking. He boasts of living through seventy-seven lotteries, and he considers those residents of other villages who have done away with their lotteries as toying with danger: "Nothing but trouble in that....Pack of young fools." Clearly, Old Man Warner represents those who unthinkingly follow a tradition simply because it is a practice that has been around for many years.

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