After reading Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery", a view on humanity was opened to me that I never gave too much thought to before. ... Jackson uses this story as a reflection of our human society. ... Jackson's story also emphasizes how we must face consequences in our society. ...In my opinion, this story is a way to demonstrate how everyone has a weakness inside them, but more significantly, an underlying evil. Even today, people follow what is done by others, and not what they truly believe in. In a way, depending on the ending, it is truly evil.
I find this story to be startling and eye-opening because it shows the reader (after having to do some thinking) that standing up for what you believe in is paramount and can mean the difference between good and evil.
I think that there are several reasons for readers being bitter about Jackson's story. First, most American readers do not like obscure endings. "The Lottery's" ending leaves readers asking why the town kills someone each year, why Tessie Hutchinson thinks that she is different from others, etc.
Moreover, even though Jackson does not establish a place or time setting for the story, when readers from her town in Vermont read the story, they thought that Jackson was portraying them (in an unflattering manner) through some of her characterization. You can imagine that if you were one of those "characters," that you would be none too pleased at your unfavorable "appearance" in a widely popular story!