story is about a tradition where the person who wins a town's lottery is stoned to death
just because a tradition is old doesnt mean its gold
just because a persons old doesnt mean hes wise
Tessie Hutchinson challenges this tradition as she faces the dire consequences of the lottery.
- **Tessie as the Protagonist:**
- Represents ordinary townspeople.
- Allows readers to empathize with the shock and horror of the lottery's outcome.
- Provides
a perspective from within the ritualistic tradition.
- **Tessie as the Antagonist:**
- Symbolizes resistance to change and conformity.
- Her protests disrupt the established order in the community.
- Causes tension by challenging the town's adherence to the tradition.
- **Evidence:**
- Protagonist: Tessie's relatable reactions to the lottery.
- Antagonist: Tessie's defiance during the lottery, disrupting the established tradition.
Answer:
Tessie Hutchinson can be seen as both the protagonist and an antagonist in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Here's an analysis with evidence from the text:
Protagonist Evidence:
- Tessie is the character that the narrative follows most closely, as we get insight into her thoughts and see the lottery unfold from her perspective. This central role suggests she functions as the protagonist.
- Tessie arrives late to the lottery, establishing her as a rebel resisting tradition, a common protagonist trait. Quotes showing this: "Clean forgot what day it was...Some folks just like to be late."
- As the chosen victim, Tessie elicits sympathy from the reader when she protests the unfairness. Her victimization emphasizes her as the protagonist. "It isn't fair, it isn't right."
Antagonist Evidence:
- Tessie resists the lottery itself, vocally opposing the other villagers who aim to uphold the tradition. This pits her against the other characters.
- Once selected, Tessie turns against the villagers, displaying hostility rather than gracefully accepting her fate. Quotes showing this antagonism: "You didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair!"
- Her tensions with others, especially her own family, position her antagonistically against them: "Mrs. Hutchinson craned her neck to see through the crowd."
So while Tessie is the lens through which we experience the narrative, her rebellion against the villagers also takes on an antagonistic role. Her dual position highlights the text's exploration of social conformity.
Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!
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