"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a short story that explores themes of tradition, conformity, and the darker sides of human nature.
Beginning: The story opens on a clear, sunny day in a small town where the residents are gathering for the annual lottery. The atmosphere is deceptively cheerful, with children playing and families chatting. The townspeople are preparing for the event, which they have participated in for many years, and there is a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Middle: As the lottery begins, the tone shifts subtly. The town's official, Mr. Summers, conducts the lottery by drawing slips of paper from a black box. The villagers are nervous but follow the process with a sense of obligation. As the names are drawn, the focus narrows down to one family, the Hutchinsons. Tessie Hutchinson arrives late, but soon the lottery draws nearer to its climax. Tessie becomes increasingly anxious as her family draws slips, and ultimately, her husband, Bill, draws the slip with a black mark, indicating that they are the selected family.
Ending: The climax culminates in a shocking twist as the townspeople turn against Tessie. It is revealed that the "winner" of the lottery is actually chosen to be stoned to death by the community as a ritual sacrifice. Despite Tessie's protests that it is unfair, the townspeople, including her own family, carry out the brutal act, underscoring the blind adherence to tradition and the potential for violence within society. The story ends with Tessie's screams echoing as she is attacked, leaving a chilling impact on the reader.