Unforgettable Tessie In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” the character of Tessie Hutchinson stands out from the beginning. It’s upon her first appearance in the story, that you realize she’s very different than the other villagers. While everyone else arrives on time, Tessie shows up later claiming to have forgotten what day it is. Also all of the others are very subdued in their manner, however, she comes in like a whirlwind cracking jokes and exuding an excitement about the annual drawing about to take place. Her differences are quite apparent in her outspoken demeanor, hypocrisy, and self-centeredness; as it’s what sets her apart from the rest. From the time Tessie arrives at the town square she shows her outspokenness, and you
clearly …show more content…
You can tell from the beginning that they don’t particularly want to be there, or seem to be in very high spirits. Unlike them, Tessie appears happy and at times almost eager for the lottery. She tells another villager that she, “clean forgot what day it was,” and when she remembered she “came a-running” (142). While the other villages are described as being quite, she laughs with Mr. Summers about being late causing chuckles from the crowd. It’s very clear the others consider her somewhat of a joke. They even go so far as to give her husband a hard time about her finally showing up for the gathering.
While it seems all in good fun, there is definitely a personality divide between her and the other villagers. You can even see a difference in how she acts compared to other wives. They all quietly stand by their husbands when arriving on the scene, but Tessie doesn’t do that. She rushes in, and when she finally makes it to her husband and children, she banters back and forth with Mr. …show more content…
She goes on that Mr. Summers didn’t give her husband enough time when choosing his slip, even though she herself tells him to hurry. If any other villager had “won” the lottery, she definitely would have stayed silent. You can easily imagine her waiting in the front row with stones ready for throwing. Once she is chosen as the “winner”, you get a feel for how self-centered she is, and it makes her death a little less sad for readers. When she offers her own daughter and son-in-law as an option yelling, “make them take their chance,” just so her odds are better, she instantly becomes less likeable (144). It’s hard to imagine any mother putting their child up for such a horrible death. You expect them to protest their children being involved, but she does not. She only considers getting herself out of it. In fact, she never even mentions her much younger children. Mothers, if given the option, would tell their children how much they love them, but
Tessie uses her final moments to plead the unfairness of her situation. The ending of “The Lottery”, with Tessie’s death, will stick with the reader long after they’ve finished it. If not for the brutality of how she dies, then for how the other villagers
clearly …show more content…
You can tell from the beginning that they don’t particularly want to be there, or seem to be in very high spirits. Unlike them, Tessie appears happy and at times almost eager for the lottery. She tells another villager that she, “clean forgot what day it was,” and when she remembered she “came a-running” (142). While the other villages are described as being quite, she laughs with Mr. Summers about being late causing chuckles from the crowd. It’s very clear the others consider her somewhat of a joke. They even go so far as to give her husband a hard time about her finally showing up for the gathering.
While it seems all in good fun, there is definitely a personality divide between her and the other villagers. You can even see a difference in how she acts compared to other wives. They all quietly stand by their husbands when arriving on the scene, but Tessie doesn’t do that. She rushes in, and when she finally makes it to her husband and children, she banters back and forth with Mr. …show more content…
She goes on that Mr. Summers didn’t give her husband enough time when choosing his slip, even though she herself tells him to hurry. If any other villager had “won” the lottery, she definitely would have stayed silent. You can easily imagine her waiting in the front row with stones ready for throwing. Once she is chosen as the “winner”, you get a feel for how self-centered she is, and it makes her death a little less sad for readers. When she offers her own daughter and son-in-law as an option yelling, “make them take their chance,” just so her odds are better, she instantly becomes less likeable (144). It’s hard to imagine any mother putting their child up for such a horrible death. You expect them to protest their children being involved, but she does not. She only considers getting herself out of it. In fact, she never even mentions her much younger children. Mothers, if given the option, would tell their children how much they love them, but
Tessie uses her final moments to plead the unfairness of her situation. The ending of “The Lottery”, with Tessie’s death, will stick with the reader long after they’ve finished it. If not for the brutality of how she dies, then for how the other villagers