Shirley Jackson, an American author and novelist, was popular in her time for her distinctive sense of mystery and horror. His fictional short story "The Lottery" is nothing short of a sinister yet surreal depiction of human weakness and hypocrisy. His clever use of consistently humorous and friendly language to narrate an evil act "packs a punch" with readers; above all, the final revelation of the fate of the apparent victor can make one feel "sick to the stomach". Jackson applied carefully toned language, vivid imagery for graphic dramatization, and carefully crafted characters, to achieve the full effect of a mysterious horror story with an underlying message that people can be hypocrites and are not always what what they look like. The story is set in a small village that has an overall aura of cheerfulness denoted by the use of positive words such as “sunny,” “warmth,” and “blooming” (Jackson). Through the use of ordinary and friendly language, the author creates a simple and peaceful environment where children tend to break into “noisy play” and women “exchange gossip” (Jackson). Throughout the beginning there is a constant representation of normal village life, where everyone knows each other and family members have typical names. The specifics of the date and time of the “Lottery”, along with the friendly conversations exchanged between the villagers, are misleading. It is only at the end that the fate of the winner is revealed; death, by friends and family. This is the most significant irony in the entire story. As the story progresses, a subtle presence of evil develops in the ordinary and cheerful atmosphere, making the readers uncomfortable. This is masterfully achieved in numbers...... middle of the card ...... alizes the irony; just when she rebelled against her beliefs, fate came upon her. “The Lottery” in a sense applies to today's society in general. Individuals show a keen interest in the circumstances of others for no particular reason. Man is decidedly blind and the sense of humanity and moral obligation is mostly weakened, to the point of being the victims themselves. Even if the awareness that "it's not right" becomes clear, for many it may be too late. According to Jackson, he received response letters that were "old-fashioned bewilderment, speculation, and abuse" (Friedman) that simply prove his theory in today's society. It's sad and it happens all the time! Works Cited Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery". Classic Short Stories, http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lotry.htmlFriedman, Lenemaja. "Social Evil: The Lottery", Shirley Jackson. Twayne Publishers, 1975