Mrs. Hutchinson was late for the annual lottery drawing in Shirley Jackson's renowned short story The Lottery because she completely forgot what day it was.
Mrs. Hutchinson's Initial Tardiness
In the poignant opening scenes of The Lottery, as the community gathers for their annual ritual, Tessie Hutchinson arrives in a hurry, slightly behind schedule. Her belated appearance is met with some lighthearted teasing from other villagers, to which she responds with a simple explanation for her delay: she "clean forgot what day it was."
Context in "The Lottery"
This seemingly minor detail plays a crucial role in establishing the initial tone of the story. The lottery, an event of profound significance for the village, is introduced with an air of normalcy and routine. Mrs. Hutchinson's casual tardiness and her forgetfulness about the date contribute to this deceptive atmosphere, making the eventual, shocking revelation of the lottery's true purpose all the more impactful.
- Subtle Character Introduction: Her late arrival subtly introduces Mrs. Hutchinson as a character who is initially perceived as a bit scatterbrained or casual, a perception that sharply contrasts with her pivotal and tragic role later in the narrative.
- Setting the Tone: The mundane reason for her delay helps to establish the story's initial illusion of a quaint, ordinary village tradition, which is essential for building the tension and horror of the climax.
The casualness surrounding Mrs. Hutchinson's tardiness—a simple oversight of the date—underscores the theme of the banality of evil that Shirley Jackson masterfully explores. It suggests that even in the face of a grim tradition, life carries on with its everyday forgetfulness and routines.
