Final answer:
Tessie's final scream in "The Lottery" criticizes the tradition and violence of the lottery, reflecting on injustice and societal norms. This challenge is echoed in Jackson's character Merricat from another work, who also confronts patriarchal society and highlights the moral dilemma presented by the tradition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of Tessie's final scream, "It isn’t fair, it isn’t right," in Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" challenges the blind adherence to tradition and the random violence justified by such customs. Tessie's outcry comes as she is about to be stoned to death by her fellow villagers, an annual ritual where a "winner" of the lottery is sacrificed. Her protest highlights the uncritical nature of the community's participation in the lottery and serves as a poignant critique of societal norms that perpetuate injustice and violence.
Tessie is not alone in her moment of rebellion in Jackson's works. In We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Merricat similarly rejects patriarchal norms by creating a woman-centered territory after burning down her own home. Both characters serve to underline themes of oppression, the power of tradition, and the potential for individuals, particularly women, to challenge or completely reject societal expectations.