Language

Irony

The author uses irony to make the outcome of the lottery more dramatic and disturbing, as violence and murder is portrayed as part of the normal way of life in the village (and, implicitly, in other communities that organise a lottery).

For example, the title of the story – “The Lottery” - is ironic, since a lottery is usually associated with good fortune. However, this particular lottery ends with the brutal murder of Tessie Hutchinson. Moreover, we notice that Tessie Hutchinson repeatedly argues that being chosen is not fair: “ ‘It wasn’t fair,’ Tessie said” (p. 30, l. 43); “ ‘Isn’t fair, it isn’t right’ ” (p. 32, l. 35). This is also ironic, since a lottery is a random process where everyone has equal chances of being picked. 

The beautiful setting of the village (p. 25,...