In the story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, villagers gather together in the center of the town each year for an annual lottery. There is much excitement and interest at the rituals of the event proceeds. The winning family is chosen by ballot, and from that family a winning member, Mrs. Hutchinson is selected. Mrs. Hutchinson, a wife and mother to five children, is then stoned by the villagers, including her family members.
Mrs. Hutchinson is the main female character of the story and she is the last to show for the drawing. She disputes the results of both drawings once completed, and she makes every attempt to lower her chance of winning by drawing her married daughters into her familie's drawing. Mr
s. Hutchinson shows a complete lack of inner strength and reveals her cowardice and uncaring relationship as shown in her actions. Mrs. Hutchinson is a perfect example of how evil exists in everyone and when pushed it can take a mother to risk her own child’s safety.
The idea of stoning a person to death for any reason in our society is cruel and unusual punishment and sickening to most. The fact that the stoning is not for any crime but for tradition makes it all that more unpalatable. Shirley Jackson continues her story telling tradition by leaving the reader with several questions on their mind as the story concludes. Does Mrs. Hutchinson get stoned to death? Does the annual practice of stoning continue? What would happen to this town if the lotter
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