Final answer:
In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," the nature of the prize is not revealed until late in the story, creating suspense. The prize, which is the death of the 'winner,' is a horrifying twist on what appears to be a serious community event, making it a bad thing.
Step-by-step explanation:
When analyzing literature, such as Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," it is crucial to use textual evidence including direct quotes to support inferences about the text. In the case of Jackson's story, the prize for the lottery is not immediately revealed, which builds tension and suspense. The audience's ignorance of the prize contributes to the unsettling atmosphere of the story.
One quote that hints at the nature of the prize is: "...not until well along in the story do we suspect that the 'winner' will be stoned to death by the rest of the villagers." This delayed revelation impacts the reader's perception, leading them to initially view the lottery as a possibly positive event, only to discover that it is, in fact, a fatal outcome—a bad thing.
The subject matter is taken very seriously by the characters in the story, which makes the eventual reveal more jarring. The audience's lack of knowledge about the prize is a deliberate choice by Jackson that expertly adds to the suspense of the narrative. As a result, the lottery is portrayed as a dark twist on a normally beneficial or rewarding event.