Hints That Help Reveal

In Shirley Jackson's, "The Lottery" there is obvious foreshadowing, the most noticeable comes from the collecting of stones by the children that hints at the shocking ending (443). The lottery seemed to be something everyone was used to which is why they laughed and joked while waiting. They were aware of the grim ending which is why when Mr. Summers said, "Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?" when he needed help with the lottery box the men in the crowd gave hesitation (444). After the foreshadwoing of the stoning there became hints of who was going to be the one to draw the black dotted slip. Mrs. Hutchinson arrived late to the drawing where she said a farewell to her friend Mrs. Delacroix and she made her way through the crowd as she would soon do at the ending of the story (445). Another large foreshadow was when Tessie, Mrs. Hutchinson, repeated, "It's not fair" when her husband's name was called and repeated to be upset and ask for more time to draw (448). Throughout the story it becomes easy to see what the outcome will be and what person had their named drawn. Jackson does plenty of foreshadowing that slowly helps reveal the final paragraph of the short story.