the lottery ticket summary essay

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Anton Chekhov’s “The Lottery Ticket”: Learning to Summarize

If you’ve ever faced the challenge of writing a concise, compelling summary for a short story, you’re in the right place. The ability to completely understand a text—whether a novel, a poem, an email, or Anton Chekhov’s “The Lottery Ticket”—and distill it down to its most essential parts is a crucial skill.

But if it’s a skill you struggle with, fret not!

We’re here to walk you through how to evaluate a text, identify its most important elements, and then craft them into an effective , well-written summary that everyone can understand.

But before we jump into our tips and tricks, let’s take a peek at Anton Chekhov and his short story “The Lottery Ticket,” which we’ll use to walk you through every stage of summarization.

A Brief Look at Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov was a Russian playwright and short-story writer renowned for his prolific, much-beloved contribution to modern literature. Often lauded for his ability to capture complex characters, themes, and ideas in concise yet evocative language, Chekhov is known as a master of short-form writing, from plays to short stories and novellas.

Throughout his lifetime, Chekhov composed many works, most of which lingered in the oddities of human nature, the complexities of everyday life, and themes of fate, hope, and disillusionment.

The Lottery Ticket: The Basics

“The Lottery Ticket” revolves around the shared life of a Russian couple: Ivan Dmitritch and his wife, Masha. The story begins as Ivan realizes that the lottery ticket they purchased matches the winning series announced in a newspaper. Thrilled by the possibility of winning a large sum, the couple fantasizes about how to spend the money.

However, as they discuss their plans, they reveal their true colors and selfish desires, leading to mutual resentment and bitterness. The story concludes with the revelation that their ticket was not a winner after all, leaving them to face the stark reality of their mundane life—and their newfound knowledge of their true feelings.

Crafting a Summary: Lessons from “The Lottery Ticket”

Step 1: identify the core elements.

The first step in summarizing a short story like “The Lottery Ticket” is to identify its core elements: the setting, characters, plot, conflict, and theme. If that feels overwhelming, break it down, item by item:

Setting : Describe where and when the story takes place.
Characters : Introduce the main characters and their relationships.
Plot : Outline the sequence of main events, including the exposition, the rising action, the climax, and the falling action.
Conflict : Explain the main problems or challenges the characters face.
Theme : Highlight the underlying message or moral of the story.

Step 2: Focus on Brevity and Clarity

A good summary is concise, to the point, and strips the story down to its most essential elements—all without getting sidetracked by minor details or subplots. For “The Lottery Ticket, ” focus on the couple’s reaction to the possibility of wealth and how it reflects their personalities and relationship dynamics.

Step 3: Use Your Own Words

It may be tempting to use memorable lines from the story to validate your claims—and you can—but a summary should primarily be written in your own words. Not only does it stretch your storytelling muscles, but it also helps you convey the story’s essence without unintentionally slipping into the pitfall of plagiarism. For example, instead of quoting Chekhov directly, you might echo the sentiment he expressed or explain the subtext dividing the letter of the text from his true meaning.

Step 4: Keep It Neutral

The purpose of a summary is to inform, not persuade or entertain. Maintain a neutral tone and avoid inserting personal opinions or interpretations—your goal is to provide a clear and factual account of the story’s key points. While you may feel a certain way about the text—in this case, you may think Ivan did indeed win the lottery —this isn’t the place for it. So, when summarizing “The Lottery Ticket,” simply state what happens and refrain from commenting on the characters’ decision or conjecturing about the story’s outcome

Step 5: Review and Revise

Once you’ve drafted your summary, take the time to revise it. Check for accuracy and coherence, ensuring your words—and your version of the story—flow logically and seamlessly from beginning to end. It’s also helpful to compare your summary to the original story , just to make sure you’ve captured all the important details.

Now that you know how to approach summarization, you’re ready to take on any task. But, just in case you need a little extra support, we’ve got you covered : Check out our guide on studying for literature tests , or take a peek at our steps to writing a perfect summary . And, if that still doesn’t cut it, you can find our entire how-to series here!

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Sample Essay

Literary Analysis of Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Lottery Ticket’

‘The Lottery Ticket’ is one of the famous short stories by Anton Chekhov. The story talks about the situation wherein Ivan Dmitritch and his wife are dreaming about how their lives would change if they win the lottery. It is in here that both characters develop criticism surrounding their current state. In the end, both had to accept the bitter reality that they didn’t win and the idea of how this news changed their views about one another. Through Chekhov’s straightforward storytelling, readers are able to dig deep surrounding the symbolism brought forward by the lottery ticket and raise issues surrounding opportunities and the importance of contentment.

One important theme highlighted by Chekhov in the story corresponds to the nature of how change can influence values and viewpoints of people. Specifically, the story examines the different reactions of the couple knowing that they had the possibility of winning the lottery. Both Ivan Dmitritch and the wife have their own corresponding dreams if they are able to win the money. From the vantage point of the story, it depicts the sad reality on how people can change their perceptions about others with the opportunity of acquiring wealth (Inspired Writing Research 1). Of course, there is the bitter pill that both characters had to swallow when they realize that they did not win. It brings them back to reality and realizes that they still had to live the normal life that they used to.

Another important theme emphasized by the piece corresponds to the idea of contentment. Chekhov at the beginning of the story is clear in highlighting about the financial capabilities of the couple. Arguably, there were no instances wherein Ivan or the wife felt discontented with what they currently have. However, this all changed with upon learning that their lottery ticket might be considered as the winner. Instead of becoming thankful of the opportunity to uplift their lives, each one began to assume that life will be better off if they had more money (Jessa 1). Though this may seem to be true, having his mindset greatly exposes the couple’s dissatisfaction in their current life. That is why when both learned that they did not win it became difficult for each one to accept.

It is also relevant to point out how Chekhov utilizes the symbol of the lottery ticket in order to convey important ideas surrounding the characters. Arguably, this object remains to be an important way to show opportunities given to people. It means that people have numerous means to uplift their lives and included in this process is the dream of becoming better. However, the catch in these opportunities is that there might be situations where these would not work in one’s favor. As for the case of Ivan and his wife, learning that they were so close in winning the lottery was painful because it remained to be essential in helping them improve their lives (Chekhov 1). Instead, they had to settle and go back to the normalcy of life. This remains to be a disheartening reality to accept especially for Ivan.

In the end, Chekhov’s ‘The Lottery Ticket’ remains to be a significant story in emphasizing lessons surrounding opportunities and contentment. By telling his piece in a straightforward manner, readers are able to understand the struggle felt by the couple as they almost won the lottery. Like the two, many have experiences where there were numerous possibilities that could have improved their life. Though these didn’t materialize, there are still valuable lessons to be gained from this encounter and should be used for personal growth and improvement.

Works Cited

Chekhov, Anton. ‘The Lottery Ticket’ Classic Reader. n.d. Web. Accessed 1 September 2014.

InspiredWritingResearch. ‘Essay Analysis of the Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov’ Humanities 360. 2 Jun. 2010. Web. Accessed 1 September 2014.

Jessa, Karim. ‘The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov an Analysis’ Humanities 360. 29 Jun. 2011. Web. Accessed 1 September 2014.

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The Sitting Bee

Short Story Reviews

The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov

In The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of hope, aspiration, selfishness, power, greed, control, freedom and satisfaction. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of hope and aspiration. Both Ivan and his wife have aspirations to better their lives and see the possibility of winning the lottery as the avenue to a better way of life. However it is interesting that both dream individual dreams about what they would do if they won the lottery. From being a comfortably well-off middle class family the reader senses that both Ivan and his wife are stricken by very human emotions. They both forget where they are in life and rather than accept their position and be happy. A sense of greed enters their lives. Ivan imagines himself to be something that he is not with unrealistic dreams of owning a large estate where he is master. If anything Ivan lets his imagination run wild without any due consideration for his wife. Which may suggest that the reality is that Ivan’s marriage may not be a happy one. Something that becomes clearer to the reader at the end of the story. Ivan thinks only of himself when he imagines what life would be like should his wife win the lottery. He takes complete control of the situation.

It is also interesting that Ivan sees himself as being more important than he is. As Master of an estate he imagines himself to have great power though it is noticeable that the power he believes he will have is not something that will benefit others. Ivan is thinking selfishly and only of himself. Something that is further noticeable when he decides he would prefer to travel alone should he win the lottery rather than being hindered by his wife’s presence. If anything there is a sense that Ivan is acting as though he is the most important person in his relationship with his family. Again no real thought is given to any of his family. Ivan remains again in total control of the situation. Though ironically he is also aware that the lottery ticket is in his wife’s name and not his. Which leads to Ivan feeling angry and frustrated. It is as though he is aware that his wife will not have the same aspirations as he does and she will instead live her life as she wants to without any direct input from Ivan. In essence Ivan may realise that he has no control over the situation despite building dreams in his head.

How selfish Ivan really is also noticeable by the fact that when it comes to his desires to travel not only does he want to do so without being hindered by his wife but he wants to leave his children behind as well. It is as though Ivan views the lottery winnings as a route to freedom from his family. No longer will he have to be there beside them. Which suggests that the reality is that Ivan may not be a good father. His primary concern throughout the story is himself with his family being considered as only an afterthought. This may be important as Chekhov may be suggesting that money, particularly large sums of money, can change an individual. With them thinking only of themselves and no one else. Which is very much the case in the story when it comes to Ivan’s train of thought. He gives no consideration to his family. They are distanced from him.

The end of the story is also interesting as Chekhov appears to be exploring the theme of satisfaction. Ivan after his train of thought concludes that he will be ostracized by his wife should she win the lottery is completely satisfied that she has not won. He regains control from his wife. Which may be important as Chekhov may be suggesting that the reality at the time the story was written was that most men had control over their wives. Women may not necessarily have been treated equally. Something that is obvious to the reader by the actions (and thoughts) of Ivan when it comes to the reality that the lottery ticket is not his. He knows that his wife will spend any money she has won as she sees fit rather than pursuing the hopes and aspirations that Ivan has. The fact that Ivan also complains about the condition of his home at the end of the story may also be important as he is placing an onus on his wife to clean the house. He is exerting control over his wife. Judging it to be her responsibility for the upkeep of the family home. From being a content man at the beginning of the story Ivan has become dissatisfied with his way of life and the way that his wife runs the family home. This dissatisfaction triggered by Ivan’s assumption that his wife will not allow him to live the life he wants to live should they have won the lottery. Though Ivan is controlling his environment it is also true to say that he does not like being controlled himself.

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12 comments

who is the publisher?

On my copy of the story, it doesn’t say.

can u please tell the theme of wolves of cernogratz please i need it immediately!

I haven’t read that story.

did you think that the lottery ticket story is unrealistic?

I never thought about it as being realistic or unrealistic. I think it’s a good story regardless.

Nice story theme

This story is realistic. Greed, ambition, control and selfishness are things to reckon with. A large amount of unexpected money can finally make dreams come true or open up new possibilities. Marriages and other relationships often fall apart when the financial circumstances improve.

Biblical parable: The Lost Son

The Lottery Ticket

By anton chekhov.

IVAN DMITRITCH, a middle-class man who lived with his family on an income of twelve hundred a year and was very well satisfied with his lot, sat down on the sofa after supper and began reading the newspaper.

"I forgot to look at the newspaper today," his wife said to him as she cleared the table. "Look and see whether the list of drawings is there."

"Yes, it is," said Ivan Dmitritch; "but hasn't your ticket lapsed?"

"No; I took the interest on Tuesday."

"What is the number?"

"Series 9,499, number 26."

"All right . . . we will look . . . 9,499 and 26."

Ivan Dmitritch had no faith in lottery luck, and would not, as a rule, have consented to look at the lists of winning numbers, but now, as he had nothing else to do and as the newspaper was before his eyes, he passed his finger downwards along the column of numbers. And immediately, as though in mockery of his scepticism, no further than the second line from the top, his eye was caught by the figure 9,499! Unable to believe his eyes, he hurriedly dropped the paper on his knees without looking to see the number of the ticket, and, just as though some one had given him a douche of cold water, he felt an agreeable chill in the pit of the stomach; tingling and terrible and sweet!

"Masha, 9,499 is there!" he said in a hollow voice.

His wife looked at his astonished and panicstricken face, and realized that he was not joking.

"9,499?" she asked, turning pale and dropping the folded tablecloth on the table.

"Yes, yes . . . it really is there!"

"And the number of the ticket?"

"Oh yes! There's the number of the ticket too. But stay . . . wait! No, I say! Anyway, the number of our series is there! Anyway, you understand...."

Looking at his wife, Ivan Dmitritch gave a broad, senseless smile, like a baby when a bright object is shown it. His wife smiled too; it was as pleasant to her as to him that he only mentioned the series, and did not try to find out the number of the winning ticket. To torment and tantalize oneself with hopes of possible fortune is so sweet, so thrilling!

"It is our series," said Ivan Dmitritch, after a long silence. "So there is a probability that we have won. It's only a probability, but there it is!"

"Well, now look!"

"Wait a little. We have plenty of time to be disappointed. It's on the second line from the top, so the prize is seventy-five thousand. That's not money, but power, capital! And in a minute I shall look at the list, and there--26! Eh? I say, what if we really have won?"

The husband and wife began laughing and staring at one another in silence. The possibility of winning bewildered them; they could not have said, could not have dreamed, what they both needed that seventy-five thousand for, what they would buy, where they would go. They thought only of the figures 9,499 and 75,000 and pictured them in their imagination, while somehow they could not think of the happiness itself which was so possible.

Ivan Dmitritch, holding the paper in his hand, walked several times from corner to corner, and only when he had recovered from the first impression began dreaming a little.

"And if we have won," he said--"why, it will be a new life, it will be a transformation! The ticket is yours, but if it were mine I should, first of all, of course, spend twenty-five thousand on real property in the shape of an estate; ten thousand on immediate expenses, new furnishing . . . travelling . . . paying debts, and so on. . . . The other forty thousand I would put in the bank and get interest on it."

"Yes, an estate, that would be nice," said his wife, sitting down and dropping her hands in her lap.

"Somewhere in the Tula or Oryol provinces. . . . In the first place we shouldn't need a summer villa, and besides, it would always bring in an income."

And pictures came crowding on his imagination, each more gracious and poetical than the last. And in all these pictures he saw himself well-fed, serene, healthy, felt warm, even hot! Here, after eating a summer soup, cold as ice, he lay on his back on the burning sand close to a stream or in the garden under a lime-tree. . . . It is hot. . . . His little boy and girl are crawling about near him, digging in the sand or catching ladybirds in the grass. He dozes sweetly, thinking of nothing, and feeling all over that he need not go to the office today, tomorrow, or the day after. Or, tired of lying still, he goes to the hayfield, or to the forest for mushrooms, or watches the peasants catching fish with a net. When the sun sets he takes a towel and soap and saunters to the bathing shed, where he undresses at his leisure, slowly rubs his bare chest with his hands, and goes into the water. And in the water, near the opaque soapy circles, little fish flit to and fro and green water-weeds nod their heads. After bathing there is tea with cream and milk rolls. . . . In the evening a walk or vint with the neighbors.

"Yes, it would be nice to buy an estate," said his wife, also dreaming, and from her face it was evident that she was enchanted by her thoughts.

Ivan Dmitritch pictured to himself autumn with its rains, its cold evenings, and its St. Martin's summer. At that season he would have to take longer walks about the garden and beside the river, so as to get thoroughly chilled, and then drink a big glass of vodka and eat a salted mushroom or a soused cucumber, and then--drink another. . . . The children would come running from the kitchen-garden, bringing a carrot and a radish smelling of fresh earth. . . . And then, he would lie stretched full length on the sofa, and in leisurely fashion turn over the pages of some illustrated magazine, or, covering his face with it and unbuttoning his waistcoat, give himself up to slumber.

The St. Martin's summer is followed by cloudy, gloomy weather. It rains day and night, the bare trees weep, the wind is damp and cold. The dogs, the horses, the fowls--all are wet, depressed, downcast. There is nowhere to walk; one can't go out for days together; one has to pace up and down the room, looking despondently at the grey window. It is dreary!

Ivan Dmitritch stopped and looked at his wife.

"I should go abroad, you know, Masha," he said.

And he began thinking how nice it would be in late autumn to go abroad somewhere to the South of France . . . to Italy . . . to India!

"I should certainly go abroad too," his wife said. "But look at the number of the ticket!"

"Wait, wait! . . ."

He walked about the room and went on thinking. It occurred to him: what if his wife really did go abroad? It is pleasant to travel alone, or in the society of light, careless women who live in the present, and not such as think and talk all the journey about nothing but their children, sigh, and tremble with dismay over every farthing. Ivan Dmitritch imagined his wife in the train with a multitude of parcels, baskets, and bags; she would be sighing over something, complaining that the train made her head ache, that she had spent so much money. . . . At the stations he would continually be having to run for boiling water, bread and butter. . . . She wouldn't have dinner because of its being too dear. . . .

"She would begrudge me every farthing," he thought, with a glance at his wife. "The lottery ticket is hers, not mine! Besides, what is the use of her going abroad? What does she want there? She would shut herself up in the hotel, and not let me out of her sight. . . . I know!"

And for the first time in his life his mind dwelt on the fact that his wife had grown elderly and plain, and that she was saturated through and through with the smell of cooking, while he was still young, fresh, and healthy, and might well have got married again.

"Of course, all that is silly nonsense," he thought; "but . . . why should she go abroad? What would she make of it? And yet she would go, of course. . . . I can fancy. . . . In reality it is all one to her, whether it is Naples or Klin. She would only be in my way. I should be dependent upon her. I can fancy how, like a regular woman, she will lock the money up as soon as she gets it. . . . She will look after her relations and grudge me every farthing."

Ivan Dmitritch thought of her relations. All those wretched brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles would come crawling about as soon as they heard of the winning ticket, would begin whining like beggars, and fawning upon them with oily, hypocritical smiles. Wretched, detestable people! If they were given anything, they would ask for more; while if they were refused, they would swear at them, slander them, and wish them every kind of misfortune.

Ivan Dmitritch remembered his own relations, and their faces, at which he had looked impartially in the past, struck him now as repulsive and hateful.

"They are such reptiles!" he thought.

And his wife's face, too, struck him as repulsive and hateful. Anger surged up in his heart against her, and he thought malignantly:

"She knows nothing about money, and so she is stingy. If she won it she would give me a hundred roubles, and put the rest away under lock and key."

And he looked at his wife, not with a smile now, but with hatred. She glanced at him too, and also with hatred and anger. She had her own daydreams, her own plans, her own reflections; she understood perfectly well what her husband's dreams were. She knew who would be the first to try to grab her winnings.

"It's very nice making daydreams at other people's expense!" is what her eyes expressed. "No, don't you dare!"

Her husband understood her look; hatred began stirring again in his breast, and in order to annoy his wife he glanced quickly, to spite her at the fourth page on the newspaper and read out triumphantly:

"Series 9,499, number 46! Not 26!"

Hatred and hope both disappeared at once, and it began immediately to seem to Ivan Dmitritch and his wife that their rooms were dark and small and low-pitched, that the supper they had been eating was not doing them good, but Lying heavy on their stomachs, that the evenings were long and wearisome. . . .

"What the devil's the meaning of it?" said Ivan Dmitritch, beginning to be ill-humored. 'Wherever one steps there are bits of paper under one's feet, crumbs, husks. The rooms are never swept! One is simply forced to go out. Damnation take my soul entirely! I shall go and hang myself on the first aspen-tree!"

Return to the Anton Chekhov library , or . . . Read the next short story; The Man In A Case

Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Character / “The Lottery Ticket” Analysis: the Nature of Dmitritch’s Greed

"The Lottery Ticket" Analysis: the Nature of Dmitritch's Greed

Category: Literature
Topic: Character , Literary Criticism

Pages: 4 (1636 words)

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The Greedy Personality of Ivan Dmitritch

Summary statements, works cited.

Chekhov, Anton. “The Lottery Ticket.” ibiblio.org. Eldritch Press, 26 Aug. 1999. www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/ac/jr/110.htm. Accessed 21 Mar. 2020.
McManus, Dermot. “The Lottery Ticket by Anton Chekhov.” The Sitting Bee, 14 Mar. 2017, sittingbee.com/the-lottery-ticket-anton-chekhov/.
Stanley, Andy. “Quotes about Greed.” Quotefancy, quotefancy.com/andy-stanley-quotes.
“The Lottery Ticket Analysis.” StudyMoose, 4 Oct. 2016, studymoose.com/the-lottery-ticket-analysis-essay.

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