The bread and lottery scene in Squid Game Season 2 has sparked discussions about its deeper meaning. In this moment, the Salesman (Gong Yoo) is seen buying bread and lottery tickets and offering them to people in poverty.
When they choose the lottery ticket and lose, he refuses to give them bread, later smashing the leftovers in a fit of rage.
This scene, at first glance, appears bizarre and cruel. However, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk explained that it reflects the Salesman’s self-hatred.
He sees himself in the struggling individuals but tries to distance himself from them by expressing disdain. The Salesman’s anger stems from his own painful past and the choices he once made.
Gong Yoo’s performance captures this internal conflict. While his actions appear charitable, his composed smile hides a sense of superiority. His rage at the end reveals his true feelings of self-loathing and frustration with the system he now helps uphold.
The Salesman’s Role Highlights Squid Game’s Themes
The bread and lottery scene also ties into the show’s broader themes. It blurs the line between players and guards, showing how everyone in the system is trapped by financial pressures.
While players risk their lives for money, guards like No-eul (Park Gyu-young) also face harsh consequences for not fulfilling their roles.
This dynamic shows that neither players nor guards are the true villains. Instead, the show critiques the class divide and the elite’s exploitation of the desperate. The Salesman, though a recruiter, is just another victim of the system.
As Squid Game Season 2 unfolds, these moments encourage viewers to question the structures that push people into such extremes. The bread and lottery scene serves as a powerful reminder of how deeply the system affects everyone involved.
Squid Game Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix.