Mr Summers

Mr Summers is a secondary character in the story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. He runs the coal business and is in charge of many of the community’s activities: “The lottery was conducted – as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program – by Mr Summers” . Despite his wealth and his status, the community sees Mr Summers as an unfortunate man: “people were sorry for him because he had no children and his wife was a scold.”

His outer characterisation tells us that he is “a round-faced, jovial man” , dressed in a “clean white shirt and blue jeans” . His clothing also makes him stand out among the common villagers, hinting at his higher social status.

Mr Summers’ inner characterisation is constructed through his language...