Final answer:
In Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery,' as the villagers come to stone her, Tessie Hutchinson protests, claiming the lottery is unfair. She is unable to prevent the villagers, including her family, from carrying out the public ritual stoning despite her defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, as the villagers come forward to stone her, Tessie Hutchinson protests her fate. In a desperate attempt to save herself, Tessie desperately claims that the lottery is not fair, that her selection is not valid, and she defends herself to no avail. The story culminates with her being surrounded by the villagers, including her own family members, who participate in the stoning as part of a chilling community ritual. Jackson's portrayal of an "average" New England village participating in this macabre tradition shocks the reader and underlines the story’s themes of tradition and violence.
LibreTexts™ does not account for this specific response, but it acknowledges Jackson’s unique ability to portray seemingly normal situations that eerily twist into the grotesque, as her stories often reveal the sinister undercurrents of society. Tess’s fate in The Lottery is a powerful example of Jackson’s narrative skill in crafting a story that starts in normalcy and culminates in horror.