Read this excerpt from "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.

Question

People began to look around to see the Hutchinsons. Bill Hutchinson was standing quiet, staring down at the paper in his hand. Suddenly, Tessie Hutchinson shouted to Mr. Summers, “You didn’t give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair!”

“Be a good sport, Tessie,” Mrs. Delacroix called, and Mrs. Graves said, “All of us took the same chance.”

“Shut up, Tessie,” Bill Hutchinson said.

“Well, everyone,” Mr. Summers said, “that was done pretty fast, and now we’ve got to be hurrying a little more to get done in time.” He consulted his next list. “Bill,” he said, “you draw for the Hutchinson family. You got any other households in the Hutchinsons?”

“There’s Don and Eva,” Mrs. Hutchinson yelled. “Make them take their chance!”

“Daughters draw with their husbands’ families, Tessie,” Mr. Summers said gently. “You know that as well as anyone else.”

“It wasn’t fair,” Tessie said.

Question
In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," how does the contrast between the characters’ view of the lottery and that of readers' impact the story?
Responses

Tessie's obviously negative view of the lottery after she wins conflicts with the readers' previous view of the lottery as rather mundane to create suspense about why Tessie gets so upset.
Tessie's obviously negative view of the lottery after she wins conflicts with the readers' previous view of the lottery as rather mundane to create suspense about why Tessie gets so upset.

The way the children of the town innocently approve of the lottery makes the readers' view of the lottery as foolish seem misguided and gives the story its conflict.
The way the children of the town innocently approve of the lottery makes the readers' view of the lottery as foolish seem misguided and gives the story its conflict.

The Hutchinsons' positive view of the lottery throughout the story differs from the readers' view of the lottery as suspicious from the very start to create humor as the story progresses.
The Hutchinsons' positive view of the lottery throughout the story differs from the readers' view of the lottery as suspicious from the very start to create humor as the story progresses.

The way the women of the village celebrate and take pride in the lottery goes against the readers' view of it as a shameful event and gives the text its wacky tone.
The way the women of the village celebrate and take pride in the lottery goes against the readers' view of it as a shameful event and gives the text its wacky tone.

Answer 1

The most accurate response to how the contrast between the characters' views of the lottery and that of readers impacts the story is:

Tessie's obviously negative view of the lottery after she wins conflicts with the readers' previous view of the lottery as rather mundane to create suspense about why Tessie gets so upset.

This option effectively captures the key tension in the narrative. Initially, readers may perceive the lottery as a typical community event, but Tessie's outcry and subsequent protest reveal its darker implications. This contrast builds suspense and highlights the story's themes of tradition and the hidden violence within societal norms. The shift in perspective as the story unfolds creates a more profound understanding of the lottery's true nature, evoking discomfort and prompting readers to critically assess the practices and rituals within their own lives.