Shirley Jackson's most popular short story "The Lottery" possesses many characteristics of shock and flaws in human nature. The shock is created with the contrast between the society and the savage act that they commit. The flaws in human nature that murder is a tradition in the village. Also, that the characters in her story have a lack of emotion and foresight. "This short story gives the sinister after the innocuous instead of the two simultaneously"(223). The short story "The Lottery" is frightening because it succeeds in revealing flaws in human nature.
             In "The Lottery", we are horrified by the atrocity of this ruthless murder committed on a completely innocent person. The ending of this short story is shocking because prior to the murder of Tessie Hutchinson the reader has been molded by the good- natured atmosphere of the village and is able to commit such a savage act (225).
             " Instead of lining up clearly on the side of good or evil, the characters exist in a chillingly impersonal world of gray immortality" (225). The cheery village scene ironically counter balanced the horrific conclusion (225). "The Lottery" attempts to make this pointless homicide a credible occurance in American life (225).
             "If anything is illogical about the total ritual it may be the stoicism of the participants and their complete willingness to sacrifice themselves or members of their families" (231). In the story Jackson reveals the primary flaw in human nature to be following a tradition for no apparent reason (235). Initially this stoning ritual is carried out to insure a good harvest but in the current setting of this story it is unnecessary and its participants senselessly kill an innocent victim without knowing why (235). "In Jacksons world, the guilty are not greedy or crazy individuals but society itself acting collectively and purposely, lik...