The Relationship between Men and Women
...erstand the underlying theme on relationships between men and women in “The Lottery.” Tradition is very important to the people in this village. Today, June 27th, everyone will gather in the village square for the lottery as they always have. The children gather first, separating themselves by gender, as if adults in their traditional social order. The boys, after stuffing their pockets with the smoothest and roundest stones they could find, begin to build a pile in one corner of the square. The girls, standing together, look over their shoulders at the boys; they continue to talk about school which has just let out for the summer. The men begin to gather, surveying their children and speaking quietly among themselves about planting, tractors, and taxes. Wearing faded house dresses and sweaters, the women follow behind them. After a few minutes of womanly gossip, they separate, each taking their places beside their husband. Standing at their husbands’ sides, the women begin calling for their children. They want them close by, watching over them like a hen over her eggs, giving motherly protection against the harsh realities of their community. Bobby Martin, ducking his mother’s grasp, continues to run away, laughing, rebelling against his mother’s control. His father speaks sharply at him and Bobby quietly takes his place beside the family. Bill Hutchinson’s wife, Tessie, slides into place in the back of the crowd, attempting to elude the embarrassment of being late. Drying her hands on her apron, Tessie begins explaining her tardiness to another village woman, Mrs. Delacroix. Tessie explains, “Clean forgot what day it was, thought my old man was out back stacking wood,” she continues, “and then I looked out the window and the kids were gone, and then I remembered it was the twenty-seventh and came a-running.” She begins to look for her husband. After making her way through the crowd, she finally takes her place at his side. The lottery official, Joe Summers, cheerfully comments on Tessie’s tardiness. While being careful not to offend her husband’s authority, he let her know that coming in late is inappropriate behavior. She replies to his statement with a grin, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe,” rebelling against his remark like an insubordinate child. Now ready to start the lottery, Mr. Summers asks if anyone is missing. People begin to shout, “Clyde Dunbar.” Mr. Summers, after remembering that Clyde’s leg is broken, asks who will be drawing for the Dunbar family this year. Mrs. Dunbar said, “Me, I guess.” Mr. Summers, concerned with breaking tradition, replies “Wife draws for her husband.” Mr. Summers questions her, asking if she has a son who can draw for the family. She regretfully replies that her son is only sixteen and that she will have to draw. Mr. Summers then asks if the Watson boy is drawing this year, suggesting that he has come of age for this manly role. The young man speaks up saying that he will be drawing for him and his mother. A voice from the crowd replies saying that he is glad to see Ms. Watson has a man to draw for them now. All the men have drawn their family’s lottery paper and are now awaiting Mr. Summers’ instructions on when to open them. Finally, after a long breathless pause, Mr. Summers gives the ok and each man opens his paper. Tessie, realizing it is her husband who has the black dot, begins shouting that the drawing is not fair and that he was not given enough time to draw. Her disorderly public outburst forces Bill to respond, “Shut up, Tessie,” he said. Tessie obeys her husband and once again stands quietly at his side, like an obedient child respecting his father. They await the final results of the lotter...