Estimated read time: 13 min read
Table of Contents
List of Characters in "The Lottery and Other Stories"
| Character Name | Story Appears In | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tessie Hutchinson | The Lottery | Protagonist/Victim |
| Mr. Summers | The Lottery | Lottery Organizer |
| Bill Hutchinson | The Lottery | Tessie’s Husband |
| Old Man Warner | The Lottery | Tradition Advocate |
| Mrs. Delacroix | The Lottery | Tessie’s Friend |
| Shirley Jackson’s Protagonists | Various Stories | Central Figures |
| Mr. Harris | The Lottery | Townsperson |
| Mr. Graves | The Lottery | Postmaster/Assistant |
| Mrs. Hutchinson | The Daemon Lover | Protagonist |
| James Harris | The Daemon Lover | Mysterious Fiancé |
| Margaret | The Tooth | Protagonist |
| Mrs. Montford | Flower Garden | Protagonist |
| Mrs. Winning | Flower Garden | Neighbor |
| Emily Johnson | Like Mother Used to Make | Baker/Protagonist |
| Harriet | Elizabeth | Protagonist |
| Mrs. Allen | Elizabeth | Mother |
| David | Charles | Schoolboy/Protagonist |
| Laurie | Charles | David’s Classmate |
This list represents major and recurring characters across the collection. Many stories feature unnamed or generically named protagonists, reflecting the universality of Jackson’s themes.
Role Identification
| Character Name | Role in Story |
|---|---|
| Tessie Hutchinson | Embodiment of victimization |
| Mr. Summers | Authority and order enforcer |
| Bill Hutchinson | Family loyalty vs. conformity |
| Old Man Warner | Tradition’s defender |
| Mrs. Delacroix | Social complicity |
| Shirley Jackson’s Protagonists | Alienation, anxiety, societal critique |
| Mr. Harris | Faceless support of tradition |
| Mr. Graves | Authority, assists in ritual |
| Mrs. Hutchinson (Daemon Lover) | Anxiety, loss, psychological distress |
| James Harris | Uncertainty, threat |
| Margaret | Innocence confronted with reality |
| Mrs. Montford | Outsider, yearning for acceptance |
| Mrs. Winning | Resistance to change |
| Emily Johnson | Yearning for connection |
| Harriet | Identity formation |
| Mrs. Allen | Family expectation |
| David | Innocence, behavior reflection |
| Laurie | Mischief, social influence |
Character Descriptions
Tessie Hutchinson
Tessie is a housewife in the village where the lottery occurs. She is lively, sociable, and initially appears unremarkable among her peers. Her character dramatically shifts when she becomes the lottery’s victim.
Mr. Summers
Mr. Summers oversees the lottery and other village events. He is described as jovial and businesslike, yet he embodies the impersonal face of ritualized violence.
Bill Hutchinson
Bill is Tessie’s husband. He is a passive participant in the lottery, conforming to its rules even when his own family is at risk.
Old Man Warner
The oldest man in the village, Old Man Warner is a staunch defender of tradition. He believes abandoning the lottery would bring disaster.
Mrs. Delacroix
A close friend of Tessie’s, Mrs. Delacroix is initially friendly and supportive. However, she turns on Tessie during the lottery’s climax, underscoring the theme of communal violence.
Protagonists in Other Stories
Jackson’s stories often feature unnamed or minimally described women facing psychological stress, societal pressure, or alienation. These characters act as everywoman figures, embodying universal anxieties.
James Harris
In "The Daemon Lover," he is an enigmatic fiancé whose absence triggers the protagonist’s emotional spiral. His ambiguous presence connects him to supernatural or psychological threat.
Margaret, Mrs. Montford, Mrs. Winning, Emily Johnson, Harriet, Mrs. Allen, David, Laurie
These characters inhabit Jackson’s exploration of ordinary life, with each confronting internal or external conflicts that reveal the darker undercurrents of domesticity and community.
Character Traits
| Character Name | Key Traits |
|---|---|
| Tessie Hutchinson | Outspoken, self-preserving, victimized |
| Mr. Summers | Authoritative, cold, efficient |
| Bill Hutchinson | Passive, obedient, family-oriented |
| Old Man Warner | Dogmatic, superstitious, resistant |
| Mrs. Delacroix | Friendly, duplicitous, conformist |
| Protagonists (Others) | Anxious, alienated, introspective |
| James Harris | Elusive, sinister, undefined |
| Margaret | Innocent, curious, vulnerable |
| Mrs. Montford | Isolated, hopeful, sensitive |
| Mrs. Winning | Suspicious, defensive, conservative |
| Emily Johnson | Lonely, meticulous, yearning |
| Harriet | Impressionable, insecure, searching |
| Mrs. Allen | Controlling, traditional, expectant |
| David | Innocent, observant, impressionable |
| Laurie | Clever, mischievous, influential |
Character Background
Tessie Hutchinson
Tessie is a long-standing member of her village community. She is married to Bill and has several children. Her background is typical of rural American women in the mid-20th century, defined by domestic responsibilities.
Mr. Summers
As the lottery’s organizer, Mr. Summers is a figure of authority in the village. He runs the local coal business, which gives him a prominent social standing.
Bill Hutchinson
Bill appears as a dutiful husband and father. He accepts village traditions without question, prioritizing conformity over familial loyalty.
Old Man Warner
Old Man Warner has lived through seventy-seven lotteries. His longevity gives him perceived authority, and his worldview is shaped by adherence to longstanding customs.
Mrs. Delacroix
Mrs. Delacroix is a neighbor and friend to Tessie. She represents the ordinary villager who easily succumbs to collective violence.
Other Story Protagonists
Jackson’s protagonists are often women who live alone or in tense family situations. Their backgrounds are marked by emotional isolation, loss, or unfulfilled expectations.
James Harris
James Harris is referenced across multiple stories, sometimes as a literal character, sometimes as a folkloric or supernatural figure, hinting at universal evil or uncertainty.
Character Arcs
| Character | Starting Point | Key Events/Turning Points | End Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tessie Hutchinson | Ordinary housewife | Selected as lottery victim; protests | Scapegoat, executed |
| Mr. Summers | Authority figure | Conducts the lottery | Unchanged, ritual persists |
| Bill Hutchinson | Submissive husband | Family chosen; chooses Tessie | Conforms, loses wife |
| Old Man Warner | Tradition’s guardian | Defends the lottery | Unchanged, supports violence |
| Mrs. Delacroix | Friendly neighbor | Turns on Tessie during stoning | Complicit in violence |
| Daemon Lover’s Protagonist | Hopeful bride | Fiance disappears; frantic search | Alone, emotionally unravelled |
| James Harris | Mysterious fiancé | Never appears; ambiguous presence | Remains an enigma |
| Margaret | Naïve girl | Confronts adult realities | Disillusioned |
| Mrs. Montford | Optimistic outsider | Faces community rejection | Isolated, resigned |
| Mrs. Winning | Suspicious neighbor | Resists change, rejects Mrs. Montford | Isolated, unchanged |
| Emily Johnson | Aspirational baker | Experiences disappointment | Yearning persists |
| Harriet | Searching for identity | Experiences family pressure | Grapples with self-image |
| David | Innocent child | Exposed to misbehavior | Begins questioning |
| Laurie | Mischievous peer | Influences David’s behavior | Remains influential |
Relationships
Tessie Hutchinson & Bill Hutchinson
Tessie and Bill’s marriage unravels under the lottery’s pressures. Bill’s compliance with the ritual, even at the expense of Tessie’s life, highlights the destructive force of conformity.
Tessie Hutchinson & Mrs. Delacroix
Their friendship is abruptly severed when Mrs. Delacroix participates in Tessie’s execution, demonstrating how social bonds collapse under communal violence.
Mr. Summers & The Village
As the lottery’s overseer, Mr. Summers is both respected and feared. His relationship with villagers is formal and detached, embodying the impersonal nature of authority.
Old Man Warner & The Community
Old Man Warner is a spokesman for tradition. His influence reinforces the village’s resistance to change and perpetuates harmful customs.
The Daemon Lover Protagonist & James Harris
The protagonist’s relationship with James Harris is marked by longing, anxiety, and ambiguity. His absence propels her psychological unraveling.
Mrs. Montford & Mrs. Winning
Mrs. Montford’s attempts at friendship are rebuffed by Mrs. Winning, who fears change and clings to social norms. Their dynamic reflects larger themes of exclusion and conformity.
David & Laurie
David is influenced by Laurie’s misbehavior in "Charles." Their relationship explores the ways in which children navigate and replicate adult society’s flaws.
In-Depth Character Analysis
Tessie Hutchinson
Tessie is the central figure in "The Lottery." Her late arrival and casual demeanor mark her as slightly different from her peers, yet she fully participates in the village’s routines. When her family is chosen, Tessie’s protests reveal her sense of injustice, but only when her own life is threatened. Her arc exposes the arbitrary and self-serving nature of morality within a conformist society.
Key Traits
- Initially easygoing and sociable.
- Outspoken when threatened.
- Willing to challenge authority, but only when directly affected.
- Victimized by the very system she supports.
Background and Motivations
Tessie’s life is defined by routine and community roles. She is not an outsider until fate singles her out. Her motivations are driven by self-preservation, highlighting the limitations of empathy when collective violence is normalized.
Relationships and Development
Her relationships are transactional and fragile. The villagers, including her friends, turn against her without hesitation. Her marriage to Bill, initially functional, is exposed as secondary to the demands of the collective.
Mr. Summers
Mr. Summers represents institutional authority. He is efficient, detached, and invested in upholding tradition, regardless of its consequences.
Key Traits
- Authoritative and respected.
- Emotionally distant, almost bureaucratic.
- Unquestioning of tradition.
Background and Motivations
Mr. Summers’ background as a business owner grants him power and legitimacy. His motivations are rooted in maintaining order and ensuring the lottery’s smooth operation.
Relationships and Development
While he interacts cordially with villagers, his role is defined by function rather than personal connection. He does not evolve, symbolizing the stagnancy of institutional violence.
Bill Hutchinson
Bill is a study in passive conformity. He does not question the lottery, even when it threatens his family.
Key Traits
- Dutiful and obedient.
- Lacks initiative.
- Prioritizes social norms over personal bonds.
Background and Motivations
Bill’s life is shaped by tradition. He is motivated by the need to belong and avoid conflict, even at personal cost.
Relationships and Development
His relationship with Tessie is sacrificed for conformity. He is a tragic figure, complicit in his wife’s death to maintain his standing in the community.
Old Man Warner
Old Man Warner is the voice of experience and tradition.
Key Traits
- Dogmatic and superstitious.
- Resistant to change.
- Outspoken in defense of ritual.
Background and Motivations
Having survived many lotteries, Old Man Warner’s identity is tied to tradition. He fears change, believing it will bring ruin.
Relationships and Development
He influences the villagers, shaming those who question the ritual. His arc is static, underscoring the persistence of destructive customs.
Mrs. Delacroix
Mrs. Delacroix personifies the duality of human nature.
Key Traits
- Outwardly friendly.
- Quickly turns violent under pressure.
- Socially compliant.
Background and Motivations
Her actions are shaped by group mentality. She seeks belonging, even if it means betraying friends.
Relationships and Development
Her relationship with Tessie is sacrificed for conformity. She becomes an agent of violence when communal norms demand it.
The Daemon Lover Protagonist
This unnamed woman is driven by anxiety and longing.
Key Traits
- Anxious and hopeful.
- Emotionally fragile.
- Consumed by uncertainty.
Background and Motivations
Haunted by abandonment, she searches for meaning and closure. Her motivations reflect broader themes of insecurity and societal pressure.
Relationships and Development
Her relationship with James Harris is ambiguous, mirroring her internal instability. She ends isolated, unable to resolve her emotional turmoil.
James Harris
James Harris is a symbol more than a character.
Key Traits
- Mysterious and elusive.
- Threatening by absence.
- Represents uncertainty or evil.
Background and Motivations
He appears in different guises across stories, suggesting a universal malevolence or the persistence of unsolved anxieties.
Relationships and Development
His absence drives the protagonist’s arc. He remains unknowable, reinforcing themes of uncertainty.
Margaret ("The Tooth")
Margaret’s innocence is tested by adult realities.
Key Traits
- Curious and naïve.
- Vulnerable to harm.
- Begins to lose innocence.
Background and Motivations
Her journey is a metaphor for the loss of childhood security. She is motivated by curiosity but is confronted with the world’s dangers.
Relationships and Development
Her arc tracks the movement from innocence to disillusionment.
Mrs. Montford & Mrs. Winning ("Flower Garden")
Their dynamic explores community and exclusion.
Key Traits
| Character | Traits |
|---|---|
| Mrs. Montford | Hopeful, open |
| Mrs. Winning | Suspicious, closed |
Background and Motivations
Mrs. Montford seeks acceptance in a new community, while Mrs. Winning resists change to protect her social standing.
Relationships and Development
Their failed relationship exposes the cost of conformity and the pain of isolation.
Emily Johnson ("Like Mother Used to Make")
Emily longs for connection but struggles with loneliness.
Key Traits
- Meticulous and caring.
- Isolated, yearning for acceptance.
Background and Motivations
Emily’s domestic rituals are attempts to create meaning. Her motivations are rooted in a desire for acknowledgment and companionship.
Relationships and Development
Her arc is one of disappointment and continued striving for connection.
Harriet & Mrs. Allen ("Elizabeth")
Their relationship is fraught with expectation and anxiety.
Key Traits
| Character | Traits |
|---|---|
| Harriet | Impressionable, anxious |
| Mrs. Allen | Controlling, traditional |
Background and Motivations
Harriet seeks to define herself, but Mrs. Allen’s expectations create tension.
Relationships and Development
Their conflict highlights generational divides and the struggle for self-definition.
David & Laurie ("Charles")
Their interaction explores innocence and social learning.
Key Traits
| Character | Traits |
|---|---|
| David | Innocent, observant |
| Laurie | Mischievous, influential |
Background and Motivations
David is shaped by Laurie’s behavior, mirroring adult society’s complexities.
Relationships and Development
Their relationship shows how children internalize and replicate societal flaws.
Thematic Connections Across Characters
Jackson’s characters reveal the dangers of conformity, the fragility of social bonds, and the persistence of violence beneath the surface of everyday life. Her protagonists, often women, embody anxieties about societal expectations and the unpredictable nature of human relationships.
| Theme | Representative Characters | Manifestation |
|---|---|---|
| Conformity vs. Individuality | Tessie, Bill, Mrs. Delacroix, Mrs. Winning | Sacrifice of personal bonds for social order |
| Violence and Tradition | Mr. Summers, Old Man Warner, Mrs. Delacroix | Ritualized violence, scapegoating |
| Isolation and Alienation | Daemon Lover protagonist, Mrs. Montford, Emily Johnson | Emotional and social separation |
| Loss of Innocence | Margaret, David | Confrontation with harsh realities |
| Anxiety/Uncertainty | Daemon Lover protagonist, James Harris | Psychological distress, ambiguity |
Conclusion
Shirley Jackson populates "The Lottery and Other Stories" with characters who, though often ordinary, reveal deep psychological and societal truths. Through their backgrounds, traits, arcs, and relationships, Jackson exposes the latent violence, anxiety, and conformity that shape human communities. Each character, whether fully realized or intentionally ambiguous, contributes to a powerful critique of social norms and the dark undercurrents of everyday life.
