Duality Of Human Nature In The Lottery

In the story, The Lottery, there are many signs of duality of human nature. Many of the characters appear to be affected by the lottery at first, but towards the end their feelings start to change. Tessie, Mr.Summers, and Mrs.Delacroix all show two sides of humanity and they all generally appear to be good natured people, but are they really?

Tessie Hutchinson, or Bill’s wife played a major role in this story. There are many signs of Duality of Human Nature in Tessie. Once Tessie arrived, realizing that she was late, she started to casually talk with Mrs.Delacroix, “Clean forgot what day it was,” she said to Mrs.Delacroix, who stood next to her and they both laughed softly.”. Everyone appeared to be in a good mood, “The people separated good-humoredly to let her through,”. Even her husband was joking around with her, “Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie,” and, “and a soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into position after Mrs. Hutchinson's

arrival.”. Tessie revealed her other side once she realized that Bill has the “winning ticket” and after she realized she had the “winning ticket”. She seemed ok with the lottery at the beginning until she was chosen to be stoned, when she spoke her last words, “It isn't fair, it isn't right,”. This could mean that Tessie did not agree with the lottery, but it was not elaborated in the story.
Mr.Summers was the man in charge of the lottery. Based on what he said, and his reactions, he seemed to think of the lottery as just a thing that he had to do every year. He did not seem too affected by Tessie’s death or even nervous while picking his own ticket. In the beginning of the story, Mr. Summers asked for help, “Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?”. In the text and in the movie, Mr. Summers seemed very nonchalant about the lottery. This could be because he is a good and happy man, but wanted to spread some happiness into the crowd. Even Old Man Warner could tell, “Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody.”, but based on the text, he did not think that that was a good thing. There are some points where Mr.Summers seemed somewhat sincere, “Daughters draw with their husbands family Tessie,” Mr. Summers said gently,” but as soon as Tessie’s ticket is shown, he treated it as if it was not a big deal to stone Tessie, “All right folks”, Mr.Summers said, “Let's finish quickly.”. I think Mr. Summers might have been affected by the lottery, but just like the others, only if he is chosen.
Mrs.Delacroix is a normal woman.

She does the lottery just like everyone else, and reacts to it just like everyone else. Towards the beginning of the story, where she is greeted by a late Tessie, she joked around with Tessie and was nice to her. Mrs.Delacroix became nervous when her husband went up to draw just like all the other women. However, when Bill Hutchinson was chosen, her attitude towards Tessie completely changed, “Be a good sport, Tessie,”. She became rude with her, and she seemed aggressive. It seems like she wanted Tessie to be quiet and to stop talking. This was shown very clearly in the movie. This is part of Mrs. Delacroix’s second side. Then once Tessie was chosen, she acted as if they never had any type of relationship, “Mrs.Delacroix selected a stone so large, she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs.Dunbar. “Come on,” she said “Hurry up.”. That is when humanity went out the window for Mrs.Delacroix, and when her true self came

out.
In conclusion, Tessie Hutchinson, Mr.Summers, and Mrs.Delacroix all show signs of Duality of Human Nature. All three characters show two sides of themselves, one side before the lottery and a completely different one after it. Additionally, This story shows how blind the community is to this “tradition”, the consequences of the lottery, and the what the villagers are capable of based on the respect that the village has for the tradition.