Good Tolerance And Indifference In The Lottery Essay Example

The casual attitude of the residents toward the inhumanity of the lottery displays indifference and tolerance of the barbaric act. Shirley Jackson uses images of tranquility and of pastoral themes to make the readers unaware of and to mask the barbarity that is to come. The readers are shown images of children picking up and hoarding stones; of villagers gossiping and joking with one another – images that complement the supposedly festive act of a lottery.
The villagers’ casual attitude can be seen throughout the story. Tessie, who came late to the gathering, supposedly forgot what day it was and its importance in the village. She jokingly remarks that her being late is caused by her dirty dishes. The villagers are enveloped in a festive mood, despite knowing that in a few more minutes, one of them is going to be killed by the whole village. This festive mood hints to a normalcy that people have gotten used to the lottery being an annual civic activity. The villagers urge the lottery to be hurried up so that they could get back to work and return to whatever they need to be doing. This is despite the fact that murder is about to take place within the rural setting of the story. The children are also coaxed into joining the festivities by the adults. The Hutchinsons, with the exception of Tessie, are relieved that one of them was not picked. The relief comes with tolerance and indifference over the idea that one of their loved ones is going to be killed by them and by the whole village.