What human nature characteristics does Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" reveal?

Jackson reveals a number of interesting characteristics of human nature.

One of the main ones is the need to follow the crowd and fit in. This is done through the villagers' need to ensure that the lottery is carried out despite the cruel and violent nature of it.

This leads onto another characteristic which is humans' inherent violence. The realist political theory argues that humans are inherently selfish and violent; Jackson's story seems to back this up. The mob are unswerving in their attack on Mrs Hutchinson: "...and then they were upon her." They relish their role in the stoning of one of their own which is possibly the most disturbing aspect of "The Lottery".

At times throughout the story, it is almost as if by victimising another, the villagers are ensuring they are not victims themselves. The kind of groupthink that evolves throughout the story is a major human trait. We do not want to stand out; we do not want to think for ourselves if it means that we might be victimised instead.

There are several themes identified in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." Those that resonate with me are violence and cruelty, and custom and tradition.

In reading the story the first time, we are probably struck by the sense of the "everyday" in terms of the characters and plot. This sense of the ordinary is what creates an environment of surprise and horror when the plot becomes apparent to the reader. It rattles the reader with Jackson...

...suddenly interjecting into a seemingly ordinary environment the horrifying reality of the lottery.

First and foremost is the theme of custom and tradition. This particular activity has been going on for years. There is vague discussion that other towns nearby are doing away with it, though we don't know what "it" is when this statement is made. The fact that everyone is so accustomed to doing the same thing each year and that no one questions it is a part of the human condition. How long did slavery continue in this country until it was finally challenged? How long did it take for women to earn the right to vote in the United States? The status quo is part of the comfort of the human condition: doing it because it has always be done "this way."

Another element of the human condition is the lack of concern as long as one is in no danger. Conversation when everyone arrives is mundane: with small talk and kidding. Even Tessie is involved. Her attitude changes dramatically when her family is targeted by the lottery. She speaks out in fear to complain, and her husband tells her to shut-up. The other families are "off the hook," so they can have no sympathy for Tessie and her family: "Better-you-than-me" is the prevalent attitude. No one has any patience with Tessie's resistance because it cannot touch them, another aspect of the human condition.

The last element I notice is Tessie's complaint that her daughter and her husband are not included with the family. A mother would generally do anything to protect her children, but Tessie's desire to survive is a basic instinct. When reason disappears in the face of disaster, a survival instinct comes into play. We see this with the rush of adrenaline one feels during a time of emergency when someone is excessively strong or fast in the face of danger: it is an animal instinct.

The aspect of violence and cruelty is also a part of the human condition. It has been a part of mankind's behavior since the beginning of time, with the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. People throughout history have found the most horrific ways to punish the human body, though it may be disguised as an honorable task, as with the Spanish Inquisition. In this community, the violence and cruelty of the lottery is as much a part of the community's standard behavior as a community picnic or a funeral. It is accepted by the community in general, no one questions it, and in light of this, no one is guiltless in the act as it is carried out year after year.

The human condition is evident throughout "The Lottery." Custom and tradition allow for this violent and cruel practice to continue year after year. Those who are not personally affected have no sympathy for those who are. People are satisfied as long as it does not harm them. No one takes a stand against this brutal custom because it's always been done this way. The victim does all she can to avoid her death—a survival instinct attempting to avoid a sentence of death. These are all aspects of the human condition.

What are two characteristics valued by the villagers in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?

The villagers in Jackson's nondescript, rural town value tradition and adherence to rules. Each summer, the villagers gather in the town square to participate in the lottery, which is a meaningless, violent annual ritual. Jackson portrays the lottery as a senseless ritual by associating it with the superstitious belief that sacrificing an innocent citizen will increase the harvest yield. Staunch proponents of the lottery, like Old Man Warner, insist that the northern villagers are a "Pack of crazy fools" for disbanding the ritual and believe that they will return to living in caves if they would ever put an end to the lottery. Jackson's underlying message of the story concerns the dangers of blindly following traditions, which is exactly what the villagers' value. Despite the senseless, irrational nature of the lottery, they value following traditions to the point that they are willing to stone a random innocent citizen each year.

In addition to valuing traditions, the villagers also value adherence to rules. In the small, nondescript town, villagers are adamant about following the rules and committed to obeying the town's laws. They obediently follow the lottery's procedures and several citizens severely criticize Tessie Hutchinson for speaking out against the lottery. Tessie Hutchinson becomes the village's scapegoat and even her family members adhere to the rules by mercilessly stoning her to death. The town's reverence for following traditions and obeying the rules allow the brutal ritual to continue from one generation to the next as innocent citizens are violently murdered each year.

One characteristic the villagers seem to value, in addition to respect for tradition, is conformity. Each person who comes to participate in the drawings and the stoning seems to be doing so because everybody else is doing it. The one exception is Old Man Warner. He really enjoys the annual lottery and supports it enthusiastically. There are obviously some who think it is obsolete, but they are afraid to express their opinions directly. They would like somebody else to do so. They don't want to stand out in the crowd. A good example is Steve Adams. 

"They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."

This seems like a very weak way for Steve Adams to express his doubts about the value of this savage custom, but at least he is venturing to hint at an objection. If enough people were openly opposed to continuing the lottery, Adams would probably be happy to join them, but he will not try to initiate anything.

Even Mr. Summers, who conducts the lottery every year, seems to be carrying out his duties only because it is expected of him. He wants to get it over with as quickly as possible.

"Well, now." Mr. Summers said soberly, "guess we better get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work."

When five members of the Hutchinson family are drawing slips to determine which of them will be stoned to death, 

A girl whispered, "I hope it's not Nancy," and the sound of the whisper reached the edges of the crowd.

She whispers because she is afraid to be seen as objecting—even hypothetically—to the stoning of her friend. She is too young and timid to express her abhorrence of this meaningless ritual. If it did turn out to be Nancy who drew the slip with the black spot, the girl who whispered "I hope it's not Nancy" would undoubtedly participate in the stoning along with everyone else.

Only Tessie Hutchinson, who gets the black spot, voices what many of the people in the crowd are feeling. Tessie becomes an outsider, a non-person, a target, and a scapegoat from the moment she draws the fatal spot.

"It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her.