Why are the stones important in "The Lottery"?

In "The Lottery," the stones are important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the stones foreshadow the murder of Tessie Hutchinson at the end of the story. This foreshadowing begins in the second paragraph of the story when the narrator describes the children stuffing their pockets with stones, selecting the "smoothest and roundest" ones, and making a pile of them in the corner.

Secondly, the stones act as a symbol of human violence throughout the...

In "The Lottery," the stones are important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the stones foreshadow the murder of Tessie Hutchinson at the end of the story. This foreshadowing begins in the second paragraph of the story when the narrator describes the children stuffing their pockets with stones, selecting the "smoothest and roundest" ones, and making a pile of them in the corner.

Secondly, the stones act as a symbol of human violence throughout the story. Through the use of this symbol, Jackson makes the point that every human has a capacity for violence. Note, for example, that even children are involved in the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson. Nobody is too young or too old to be involved in this barbaric ritual.

Similarly, the stones are the only surviving relic of this historic tradition:

Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.

The stones, therefore, represent the darker side of human nature. Jackson argues that humans cannot escape their propensity for extreme and illogical acts of violence.