What does the lottery symbolize in the story.and how does it reflect the central theme of the piece? The lottery symbolizes a cooperative community, reflecting the theme of solidarity. The lottery symbolizes luck and fortune, reflecting the theme of chance. The lottery symbolizes outdated traditions, reflecting the theme of blind conformity. The lottery symbolizes democracy reflecting the theme of fair governance.

The lottery symbolizes outdated traditions, reflecting the theme of blind conformity.<br /><br />In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," the lottery itself is a ritualistic event that the townspeople follow without questioning its purpose or morality. This reflects the central theme of blind conformity, as the community continues to participate in this violent tradition simply because it has always been done. The story critiques how people can adhere to outdated and harmful practices due to societal pressure and the reluctance to challenge the status quo.