There is more concern over the formalities in the process of the lottery, than knowing that a murder was about to happen. Even when it is realized that Tessie was the "winner," there was no sense of despair or a feeling of regret. Mr. Summers simply says, "All right folks, let's finish quickly" (138).
Old Man Warner is the oldest member of the community, and agrees with the tradition of the lottery completely. He is a proud man and is pleased to be in the drawing. He tells everyone, "Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery Seventy-seventh time" (136). The idea of him taking part in seventy-seven murders seems to phase no one.
He is very upset when he hears that other towns nearby have gotten rid of their lottery, and says, "Nothing but trouble in that" (136). He is very displeased with the youth, and blames them for the mere thought of breaking tradition. The reader knows this because he says, "Pack of crazy fools, listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while" (136). He uses the old saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" (136), as an excuse for the horrific act that is done. He is convinced that if the lottery is stopped, they will "all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns" (136). For Old Man Warner "there's always been a lottery" (136), and he thinks it should continue on forever. Change is simply out of the question for him and is inexcusable. .
The children of the town also play a role in the lottery. Seeming to be very normal kids, they grouped together and talked about the end of the school year, and how the "feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them" (133). They would "gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play" (133).