"The people separated good-humoredly to let her through" (270). Jackson illustrates Mr. Summers the announcer of the lottery how excited he was of Mrs. Hutchinson arrival when Mr. Summers, who had been waiting, said cheerfully, "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie" (270). This suggests a specific and clear meaning to her arrival, but the fact that the laughter is soft indicates that there is something amiss. Even after her arrival the dreariness continues. The names are read, apparently monotonously, and the reference to Old Man Warner is just another reminder of dullness, since old is often related with dull. .
The setting also shows how the outcome of dangerous behavior due to superstition can have others act as if the ending result is a normal and undreadful ritual. Mrs. Hutchinson fellow citizens and her family know what is about to occur, but she doesn't, which makes matters even worse. Fortunately, she does uniquely lend herself to some careful observation, but not enough to be sure of the dreadful outcome against her. Much can be said of the dramatic irony that leads up to her stoning and death. Her entrance raises eyebrows throughout the crowd and seems to loosen everyone up with some laughter. It's as if there is a spotlight hovering over her the entire story and she doesn't even know it. Unfortunately, when superstitious acts take place the one against it is usually the one that has evil presented before them unknowingly. It was very ironic that her entire family went to this large event and she managed to almost forget about it and stay home unnoticed by her family. It seems logical that for such an important event, her family would have definitely made sure that she was present. It's quite ironic. All of the characters in the story seem to be laughing at times towards her during a pretty somber event. For example, after Mr. Hutchinson name is called, she says, "Get up there, Bill," (Jackson 271) and the people near her laughed, clearly knowing what the result of this event would be.
