Tessie Hutchinson is an important character. She is the one who 'wins' the lottery and becomes the victim of the brutal tradition. Old Man Warner is also important as he represents the old - guard who firmly believes in keeping the lottery tradition alive.
One of the main themes is the danger of blindly following traditions. In the story, the lottery is a long - held tradition that the villagers participate in without really thinking about its brutality. Another theme could be the idea of scapegoating. The person who 'wins' the lottery is made to bear the brunt of the community's unexamined violence.
To be honest, I can't recall who wins the lottery precisely in that short story. It's a story that keeps you guessing until the end. Maybe you should give it a read and figure it out for yourself.
In 'The Lottery', the story begins with a description of a normal day in a small town. The lottery is set up in a rather matter - of - fact way. The children are gathering stones, which at first seems like innocent play. But as the lottery process unfolds, we realize the horror that awaits the 'winner'. Shirley Jackson uses this story to highlight the danger of conforming to long - held traditions without examining them. The townspeople's nonchalance towards this brutal act is both frightening and thought - provoking. It forces us to consider how often we might be following traditions in our own lives without realizing the potential harm or injustice they could cause.
Sure. The Lottery has elements of irony throughout. For example, the villagers' casual participation in a ritual with dire consequences shows a contrast that creates irony.