Situational Irony In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

Furthermore, the theme and conflict of the stories were developed by the use of situational irony. In “The Possibility of Evil” the irony of the effect of the letters on the town creates a greater evil in society rather than eliminate it, through the irony the conflict of Ms.Strangeworth vs society is created. In “The Lottery” the irony of Tessie Hutchinson conforming to the tradition and then objecting as she is stoned to death creates the theme “the dangers of following traditions blindly”. Looking at the picture, the theme and conflicts of these stories cause the reader/society to question morals and to looks for flaws in oneself before looking in others. Doing so will help accomplish Shirley Jackson’s underlying message to improve the shortcomings