The Lottery

Summary

Set in a small, idyllic American town on a beautiful summer day (June 27th), the story begins with a deceptive sense of normalcy. The townspeople gather in the square for an annual ritual known as "the lottery," which has been practiced for generations. Children gather stones, while the adults exchange casual gossip. The head of each household draws a slip of paper from a weathered black box. When Bill Hutchinson draws the marked slip, his wife, Tessie, immediately protests that the drawing wasn't fair. A second drawing is held among the family members, and Tessie draws the slip with the black dot. The story concludes with the chilling revelation of the "prize": the villagers, including her own family, surround Tessie and stone her to death to ensure a good harvest.