Tess Hutchinson Character Analysis Essay

Character Analysis of Tessie Hutchinson in “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” accounts the sacred primitive tradition of the lottery in a rural community where the nominated individual is stoned to death by their fellow citizens. In “The Lottery”, Jackson characterizes Tessie Hutchinson through juxtaposition, diction, and imagery. The characterization of Tessie Hutchinson reveals her insurgent, dominating, and egotistical identity. Tessie Hutchinson’s insurgent ways is primarily revealed through juxtaposition. The juxtaposition begins when “The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o’clock.” where women wore “faded house dresses and sweaters, came shortly

Upon the revelation that the Hutchinson household has been selected for the lottery, Hutchinson’s attitude automatically shifts. The confidence she once had to be late to the lottery, show up not dressed to society’s standards and dominate her husband leaves the second she realizes she is at risk. She immediately ridicules Mr. Summers for not giving her husband enough time to select his paper despite his years of experience conducting the ritual. In her manic state she attempts to save herself at her own daughters risk when she yells “There’s Don and Eva… Make them take their chance!” (Jackson 4). Tessie puts her own daughter under the bus in attempt to save herself. It is revealed that Tessie knew it was not a possibility when Mr. Summers asserts that is not an option and that Hutchinson “know(s) that as well as anyone else.” (Jackson 4). The clarification and correction by Mr. Summers emphasizes Tessie Hutchinson’s egotistical persona and reveals her dramatic attempt to save herself at the risk of losing her own daughter. Shirley Jackson characterizes Tessie Hutchinson as an insurgent, dominating, egotistical person in her short story, “The Lottery”. Jackson successfully creates this image through diction, imagery, and juxtaposition. Tessie Hutchinson is a member of the village that rebels against society’s standards and expectations, dominates her husband, and only cares about