The Lottery Character Analysis

The Lottery Character Analysis

Mr. Summers

Despite the positive connotations associated with his name, Mr. Summers holds the responsibility of overseeing many of the town's activities including the lottery. His prominence in the town seems to stem from the fact that he manages the coal company, and from the town's people, who sympathize with him because he is childless and has a miserable wife. With the help of Mr. Graves, he oversees every aspect of the lottery, including preparing the papers with the black spot, and housing the black box through out the year. Mr. Summers, does not have the same level of obsession with the paraphernalia of the lottery, and is shown to be very practical when it comes to things like the black box. He gets rid of the practice of using wood chips, instead replacing it with paper due to the increase in the town's population, and he also suggests changing the box since it is no longer in the best condition. Despite his position of importance, however, the ritual trumps his power, and we learn that he too must partake in the lottery like everyone else in the town after he himself picks a paper from the black box.

Old Man Warner

Old Man Warner is the oldest man in town, and has participated in the lottery seventy-seven times. Despite this, he is a very staunch supporter of the lottery, and completely rejects the idea of abandoning the lottery. Old Man Warner believes in the power of the lottery in ensuring a good harvest, and refers to those in a neighboring town who abandoned the lottery as a "pack of crazy fools." Old Man Warner's attitude represents the overall reluctance of the community to give up the barbaric act, believing it to be the key to the town's survival.

The Lottery Character Analysis

Tessie Hutchinson

Tessie Hutchinson, the wife of Bill Hutchinson, is introduced as being somewhat different from her neighbors. From the outset we are given the impression that she is viewed differently from the town's people based on the fact that whenever she speaks it is met with laughter, and seems to unsettle the crowd. Mrs. Hutchinson is supportive of the lottery, rushing to the gathering once she realizes she is late, and encouraging her husband Bill to pick a paper. It is interesting to note that even to the point where she is chosen, she never once decries the practice itself, and only accuses Mr. Summers of not giving her husband enough time to pick a paper. Her statement "it isn't right" seems to stem from her great disappointment at being chosen as the town's sacrifice. Since she is introduced as bing different, and is then chosen to be stones to death; her death communicates to the reader that the town's people reject the idea of changing and the lottery will probably not be abandoned by the town's people anytime soon.