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What is Tessie's reaction when her husband is asked how many family members there are in his family?

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Final answer:

Tessie Hutchinson reacts with protest and claims unfairness when her husband Bill's family is chosen in Shirley Jackson's short story 'The Lottery,' which symbolizes the folly of blindly following tradition and underscores the story's tension leading to its shocking conclusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question seems to be referencing Shirley Jackson's short story The Lottery, where Tessie Hutchinson reacts with dismay when her husband's name is drawn in the lottery. When Bill Hutchinson draws the paper with the black spot, indicating that his family has been chosen for the lottery, Tessie immediately protests the process, claiming it wasn't fair because Bill didn't have enough time to select a paper.

Tessie's reaction characterizes a critical theme of the story: the blind following of tradition and the randomness of persecution. The question may be asking about a specific moment where Tessie's reaction shows her growing realization of her dire situation.

In The Lottery, Tessie's reaction goes from a light-hearted participation to horror and desperation when her family is at risk, which undermines the initial presentation of the event as a community gathering and reveals the darkness beneath the town's tradition. Shirley Jackson masterfully uses Tessie's change in demeanor to ramp up the story's tension and ultimately deliver its shocking conclusion.

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