Question

Do you find the narrator's tone strange, or even shocking? why? what theme about cruelty or injustice does this tone help communicate?

Answer 1

In 'The lottery' by Shirley Jackson, the telling tone of the narrator serves the purpose of making the reader feel a certain mood. Throughout the story, it seems that it is a normal day and situations flow along with the retelling that is why, the ending is so shocking and unexpected. The reader is not expecting such an ending because of the soft tone of the facts previously told. This drastic ending helps the aim of themes which may be follow tradition blindly, persecution as well as cruelty and injustice from society.