1. The Innocent:
* Tessie Hutchinson: While she ultimately becomes the victim, she initially embodies innocence and ignorance. She arrives late to the lottery, jokes about it, and seems unaware of the true nature of the event. This innocence, however, is challenged by the cruel reality of the tradition.
2. The Conformist:
* The Villagers: The majority of the villagers are conformist, accepting the lottery as a necessary and unchanging part of their life. They blindly follow the rules, regardless of their morality or sense of justice. They represent the dangers of unquestioning obedience and the suppression of individuality.
3. The Rebel (Unclear):
* The story lacks a clear rebel character. While there are hints of dissent (like the Old Man Warner's grumbling about other villages abandoning the lottery), there is no individual who actively challenges the tradition. This absence highlights the power of tradition and the lack of resistance within the community.
4. The Victim:
* Tessie Hutchinson: She becomes the ultimate victim, symbolizing the blind adherence to tradition and its potential for cruelty. Her sacrifice serves as a stark reminder of the danger of unquestioning conformity.
5. The Authority Figure:
* Mr. Summers: He is the figurehead of the lottery, facilitating the ritual and ensuring its smooth execution. He represents the authority that enforces the tradition, even though it's ultimately destructive.
6. The Outsider (Unclear):
* The story lacks a clear outsider. While the villagers are seemingly isolated from the outside world, there is no one who comes from outside to challenge their beliefs. This reinforces the sense of the village being trapped in its own cycle of tradition.
Symbolic Archetypes:
* The Lottery: The lottery itself acts as an archetype of blind faith and harmful tradition. It symbolizes the dangers of unquestioning conformity, the suppression of individual thought, and the potential for violence in the name of tradition.
* The Black Box: The black box, which holds the lottery slips, represents the darkness and hidden dangers of the tradition. It also symbolizes the lack of transparency and the potential for corruption within the system.
It's important to remember that the archetypes are not defined as static figures. They are fluid and can shift and evolve throughout the story. In "The Lottery," the characters act as representations of broader themes and ideas, highlighting the dangers of blind faith, the importance of questioning traditions, and the potential for human cruelty.