Answer:
The characters in the story exhibit a range of personalities and attitudes. Some are cheerful and engaged in friendly banter with their neighbors, while others seem more reserved and serious. The story does not provide extensive character development, as its focus is on the ritual itself rather than individual character traits.
However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the townspeople are willing participants in a disturbing tradition—the annual lottery. Their willingness to participate in this violent and brutal act reveals a darker side to their community. The townspeople's conformity and obedience to tradition, even in the face of the horrifying outcome, challenge the reader's assumptions about the nature of conformity, tradition, and the potential for cruelty that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary people and communities.