Final answer:
In Shirley Jackson's short story, the townspeople's attitude becomes malevolent as it's revealed the lottery leads to a stoning. The story highlights the abrupt shift from normalcy to cruelty under the guise of tradition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question appears to be inquiring about the attitudes or behaviors of the townspeople in a story after a lottery begins. In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," referenced in the LibreTexts™ account, the initially innocuous behavior of the townspeople becomes sinister as it is revealed that the lottery ends with the "winner" being stoned to death. This displays a shocking transformation from a seemingly normal social event to a cruel and ritualistic act. The complexity of human nature and societal traditions are key themes explored in Jackson's story, illustrating how normalcy can quickly shift into violence under the guise of tradition.
Stories like the one mentioned about the lottery winners and the changes in the town after the war evoke a sense of change, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. While the lottery stories often revolve around good fortune and dramatic shifts in the winners' lives, stories of wartime change touch upon the adaptability and resilience of individuals in the face of upheaval.