The quotation above shows their faith towards the lottery. However, unlike the children, they show anxiety instead of curiosity. They feel anxious
because their jokes are quiet and they only smile rather than laughing. It feels that they really want to know who will be the chosen one in the lottery. They
know they will fight with each other for their luck in the lottery. Even though they know they will fight with each other, they still come to the square. It
means that they have faith in the lottery. Friendliness is created among the women. They say hello to each other
when they gather around in the square. They greet one another and talk a bit of gossip. It is stated in this quotation, “The women, wearing faded house
dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk. They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to
join their husbands” Jackson
, 1988:149. It also shows that the women’s attitude is friendly. Friendly atmosphere is also shown through by the conversation between
Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Delacroix. It happens when the lottery drawing is about to start.
Just as Mr. Summers finally left off talking and turned to the assembled villagers, Mrs. Hutchinson came hurriedly along the path to the square,
her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into the place in the back of the crowd. “Clean forgot what day it was, “she said to Mrs. Delacroix
who stood next to her, and they both laughed softly. “Thought my old man was out back stacking wood,” Mrs. Hutchinson went on, “and then I
looked out the window and the kids was gone, and then I remembered it was the twenty-seventh and came a-
running.” She dried her hands on her apron and Mrs. Delacroix said, “You’re in time, though. They’re still
talking away up there. Jackson, 1988:150.
It is clear that Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Delacroix have a good relationship. They greet each other and joke around. This is also obvious that the people of
the village are friendly enough. They seem to know each other well. It is shown by the response from the people in that village to Mrs. Hutchinson’s
joke. Mrs. Hutchinson reached her husband, and Mr. Summers, who had been
waiting, said cheerfully, “Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie.” Mrs. Hutchinson said, grinning, “Wouldn’t have
me leave m’dishes in the sink now, would you, Joe?,” and soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into the position after
Mrs. Hutchinson’s arrival. Jackson, 1988:151 They do not show that they worry enough about the lottery because they are
still doing that although they know that they must kill whoever is chosen. Mrs. Hutchinson shows that she really enjoys being a part of the lottery.
A small talk and joke with Mrs. Delacroix reveals the attitude of Mrs. Hutchinson. She seems to be not worried about the lottery even though she
comes late to the square. It means that Mrs. Hutchinson feels no problem toward the lottery.
2. The Attitudes of the Characters in the Conflict
When the lottery begins, people who gather around in the square do not show something different in their attitudes. They still enjoy the lottery as
usual. But, there is a small talk about giving up the lottery which happens in the north village. It makes Old Man Warner shows his anger. He does not
want to give up the lottery. He refuses to follow what the north village does. Old Man Warner snorted. “Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “Listening to
the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next thing you know, they’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore,
live that way for a while. Used to be a sayin g about ‘Lottery in June, corn
be heavy soon.’ First thing you know, we’d all be eating stewed chickweed an acorns. There’s always been lottery,” he added petulantly.
“Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody” Jackson, 1988:152
He believes that the lottery must be followed by everybody in the village. He does not feel nervous when getting his lot. He encouraged the other people by
saying “Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery,” Old Man Warner said as he went through the cro
wd. “Seventy-seventh time” Jackson, 1988:152. His faith toward the lottery makes him believe that the lottery should not be
abandoned because he believes that the lottery will bring happiness. On the other hand, Mrs. Hutchinson also never shows that she is
worried or scared. She supports her husband, Bill Hutchinson, when he is doing his lot. “Get up there, Bill,” Mrs. Hutchinson said, and the people near
her laughed” Jackson, 1988:152. From Mrs. Hutchinson’s statement above, it seems that Mrs. Hutchi
nson doesn’t worry at all. Her attitude does not show that she is nervous or scared. Instead, she gives support to her husband as if
something would not happen to her. This is really different since other people feel nervous about their lot. She likes watching her husband doing the lot
instead. There has been a long pause after they get their lot. Suddenly their
attitudes change. It begins when Mrs. Hutchinson knows that her husband is the chosen one or the winner. She feels that the lot is not fair for their family.
She seems really angry after knowing the decision from the lots . “You didn’t
give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair” Jackson, 1988:152. She also thinks that their children should have their
chance to draw the lot. “There’s Don and Eva,” Mrs. Hutchinson yelled.
“Make them take their chance” Jackson, 1988:153. It also makes Mrs. Hutchinson shows that she is scared to accept the decision. It shows different
attitude from her due to the fact that at the beginning she seems very excited about the lottery as mentioned in this quotation “Get up there, Bill,” Mrs.
Hutchinson said, and the people near laughed” Jackson, 1988:152. She tries to give a support when her husband has his turn to take the lot. On the other
hand, Mrs. Delacroix and Mrs. Graves really hate the fact that Mrs. Hutchinson thinks that the lot for their family is not fair. “Be a good sport,
Tessie,” Mrs. Delacroix called, and Mrs. Graves said, “All of us took the same chance” Jackson, 1988:152-153.
It seems that the attitudes from the characters toward the lottery do not change. They still show their faith toward the lottery. It seems like the lottery
is ritual that should be obeyed. It is shown by the attitudes of Old Man Warner when he gets angry after listening to some folk wanting to give up the
lottery. On the other hand, Mrs. Hutchinson does not like it when she knows that her husband is the winner. She thinks that her family does not get enough
time to pick the lot. The faithful towards the lottery reveals that Mrs. Hutchinson does not worry about the lottery. She only refuses the way of the
lot to her families and thinks that the lottery should be restarted for her families. Even though, she should make all her children to be counted in the
lottery. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
