The Purpose of the Lottery
The purpose of the lottery has been subject to increasing debate over the years, more so in relation to its significance and importance to humans in modern times. The lottery has been structured in a way that it targets middle class to low-income earners who are desperate to transform their lives. There exist numerous lottery games, from the Powerball lottery, to the ticket lotteries all of which are designed to motivate or persuade players into using their money to try their 'luck'. Roland Barthes` Mythology is a critically acclaimed book that attempts to demystify some modern-day myths by analyzing how the societal stereotypes influence the perception of different cultural phenomena. Therefore, the paper shall aim to confirm Barthes` Mythological notion by determining the meaning of the lottery and how the understanding of lottery has changed based on Barthes` notion that the thing triumphs or supersedes its substance at its second level.
Understanding the Lottery System
To begin with, there are three main levels that are essential to understanding the lottery system according to Barthes` Notion (Barthes, 11). First is the signifier which represents the actual object which, in this case, is the Powerball or lottery ticket. The second is the signified concept which is wealth and riches when dealing with lotteries, and third is the sign which has three sections the form, the concept, and the signification or sign.
The Demographic Targeted by Lotteries
It is critical to understand the demographic targeted by lotteries when attempting to understand the myth behind lotteries. The lottery is the object which acts to signify wealth, riches and even affluence. Most of the middle class and low-income earners harbor dreams of financial stability, wealth and possession of assets. Winning the lottery presents a rare opportunity for the players to change their lives. The lottery's meaning has changed over time as it now appeals to the middle class and low-income earners who believe it can indeed, change their lives. Initially, the lottery was perceived as another game for the wealthy who could afford to spend money on lottery tickets. However, the perception soon faded as more people from the lower financial classes began registering big wins.
The Symbolism of Winning the Lottery
The lottery confirms and reaffirms Barthes' notion as can be seen from the reaction when the lottery is won. The lottery can only have few winners despite the thousands of competitors who attempt to try their luck. Indeed, the lottery has been structured to represent opportunities that are life changing since they offer financial progress and consequently change the lifestyle of the player. Thus, the lottery has been made to appear as a way out of poverty and financial struggles despite the rare chances of winning.
The American Dream and the Lottery
The lottery has been structured in such a way that winning the lottery is a symbol of outright success. The underlying concept is that the luck of winning the lottery changes the status of an individual which is a signification of the American Dream ideology. The 'rags to riches' ideology is the signification of the lottery whereby the players firmly believe that, through the lottery, they will transform their lives once they win the lottery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the lottery concept confirms Barnes' Mythological notion that the thing triumphs its substance at the second level. This can be seen from how the lottery system works as it entices its target demographic and lures it into playing the lottery games despite having minimal winning chances. From the initial perception of the lottery being an upper-class activity, the notion has significantly changed over the years such that low-income earners believe the lottery is a rare opportunity to acquire wealth and financial stability.
Works Cited
Barthes, Roland. Mythology. Hill and Wang, 1972.
