This is another example of the rigidness of the townspeople when it comes to their old traditions, as well as beginning to show that the lottery isn’t exactly a positive event, as many towns are dropping it. Next, the Hutchinson family is called, meaning that either Mr. or Mrs. Hutchinson or one of their three children will be the winner of the lottery. Mrs. Hutchinson immediately protests, adding to the mystery of the lottery. Considering that most people would be thrilled to be the winner of the lottery, this scene is another indication that the lottery is anything but good. One by one, the Hutchinsons revealed their slips of papers that they drew to determine the winner, and each person that holds a blank shows great relief.
The fact that the people gather and discuss everyday issue prior to the start of the lottery all point to the blind tradition of selecting some to be stoned to death. The author also points out in her story that no one knew when or why the tradition of the lottery began. Even not knowing Tessie Hutchinson, at first had no issues with the annual event. It was only when she “won” the lottery that she developed the point of view that was bias or judgmental. Mrs. Hutchinson protests the process of the lottery and the town’s methods, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.” (Kennedy & Gioia, 2013, pp.
Through the use of symbolism Shirley Jackson reveals the underlying decay of ethics that results from an empty ritual followed by narrow-minded people. Tessie Huchinson symbolizes the typical townsperson who lacks morals and conforms to the masses. Upon introduction she exudes a carefree attitude when she arrives late at the lottery, by joking with Mr. Summers and urging her husband to, "Get up there…" when their name is called to pick (Jackson 77). Consequently, the moment she finds out that her husband has the black dot Tessie yells, "It wasn't fair!" (Jackson 78).
It’s cruel that the people of the town would hope that the families who had already lost a member be chosen once again. Tessie’s cheerful personality about the lottery finally vanishes once she realizes that her husband had picked the paper with the dot (Jackson 375). Only now does the lottery seem unfair to her; it is also where the reader realizes what a terrible, selfish person Tessie is. First, Tessie claims that Mr. Summers hadn’t given Mr. Hutchinson enough time to choose (Jackson 375). Then, as Yarmove writes, Tessie shows her deceitful side when she tries to make her two married daughters partake in the next draw so that she will have a better change to survive (2).
implies a contest with a winner of some kind, like a sweepstakes. When in reality the winner is actually the loser or person that will die by stoning. At the beginning of this story, the main character, Mrs. Hutchinson, is in favor of the lottery. The atmosphere of the town is casual yet anxious. Mrs. Hutchinson arrives late because she ?clean forgot?
Now, as the story progresses and the lottery begins it becomes more difficult to compare Mrs. Hutchinson to other people in the town after the first round where her family wins the lottery. At that moment, Mrs. Hutchinson losses it and transforms to something that the villagers do not like. She begins to protest and even more after the second round when she learns that she will be sacrificed. All at once, Mrs. Hutchinson tries to do everything she can to get out of such death, “There’s Don and Eva,” she offers up her daughter for the slaughter instead of herself (143). Lastly, her near death drove her to show her true colors and how she changed through out the whole
Every head of household, archetypally male, draws for the fate of their family, but Tessie protests as she receives her prize of a stoning after winning the lottery. Jackson uses different symbols – symbolic characters, symbolic acts, and allegories – to develop a central theme: the
The hope for dismissing lottery can be seen in the Mrs. Dunbar’s hesitation, when she said, “ I can't run at all. You'll have to go ahead and I'll catch up with you". Even though, in the end, people are anxious to finish lottery quickly, some characters are unhappy with this vicious ritual. Jackson’s intention behind showing unhappy characters shows us what Jackson feels about “the lottery” her self and also want her readers to feel the same way.
The town’s people gather with zeal. One character, Mrs. Hutchinson, rushes to make it to the lottery on time. This reassures the reader that the lottery is a must-see event. Another character, Old Man Warner, states that the other towns were crazy for giving up the lottery. With this being said, obviously something good was to come out of the contest.
All of us took the same chance (The Lottery, pg. 5)." Mrs. Hutchinson did not like the responses at all. She even demanded that her married daughter draw in the final round with them. This was only to lessen her chances of getting picked in the end.