Not everything in life is a Norman Rockwell painting. If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a great example of this. The story is about a small town with an odd tradition. Every year the people of the town conduct a lottery, which ends in a twist. On the day of the lottery, Tessie, a town's lady, is running a bit late for the lottery. After her arrival, the town starts drawing slips of paper out of a box for the lottery. Her family gets the black dot and is selected. Then everyone in her family must draw to get the winner of the lottery. In the end, Tessie wins and is then stoned to death for the prize. The use of the title, setting, and most of all the attitude of the characters leads the reader to a total surprise ending.
             A lottery is the drawing of lots with prizes. Many people associate the lottery as being something great. When we read Jackson's story, we draw a conclusion that the story might have a positive outcome, but after it is the complete opposite. Yes, Tessie wins the lottery, but her prize was her being stoned to death. When we think of a lottery the thought that comes to mind is good, and we do not correlate being stoned to death as something good. The use of setting also creates a false picture for the reader.
             Jackson starts her story on a "clear, sunny, with fresh warmth of a full-summer day," which leads the reader to believe all is good. The children are the first to gather for "The Lottery." She says that "school was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty say uneasily on most of them." It seems that if it is a bright sunny day, the children should be laughing, running, and playing. Next come the men; instead of talking normally "they [stand] together... and their jokes [are] quiet and the [smile] rather then laugh." Finally, the women come and "[exchange] a bit of gossip." The setting seems to be a somber state. The attitud...