Among the attributes frequently reproached in Jackson's The Lottery are its ambiguous dialogue and characters that are bluntly presented. The Lottery's character development is indeed indistinct whichever direction you look at it. However, Shirley Jackson used them as an advantage to develop her prevailing theme - the horror of man's evil. As part of the development of this centralizing theme, Jackson omitted the exacting characterization of a protagonist and/or antagonists. She does this by displaying everyone in the story as just an average person. The reader would have never determined from the beginning if it were Mr. Joe Summers or Old Man Warner, Mr. and Mrs. Adams or Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson who was the emerging protagonist. Yet this was for the reason that as supporting theme, all characters must be treated equally to prove that the ultimate sacrificial victim (the protagonist) could be anyone; henceforth to emphasize even more the horror of man's evil as central theme.

The next point to consider is Jackson's imprecise style of delivering the short story. Again, this is purely intentional - the dialogue, tone, and the irony which are all but elusive. The dialogue jumps from expected to unexpected remarks, as with Mr. Summer's suggestions of replacing the black lottery box and the people's reaction including Old Man Warner's mention that it was “Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody” as there has always been a lottery. The author's tone remains detached, as with showing no instance that anybody heeded Tessie as she kept on uttering, “It wasn't fair… I think we ought to start over… I tell you it wasn't fair” nor describing any reaction in the people as they were going in upon Tessie. And, irony is prevalent verbally and dramatically - as with the two-sided expression of the black box symbolism and the characters' prejudiced and hypocritical behavior - for instance in Mrs. Delacroix, who is supposed to be Tessie's good friend, reprimanding her to be a “good sport” saying “All of us took the same chance” and, in the end, selecting a huge stone for throwing at her; A friend's loud whisper hoping that it's not Nancy; Everyone blandly wanting to have the lottery done with yet (everyone including family) acting naturally towards the result of the draw and at all fervor while getting on with the throwing; Also Mr. Adams who pointed to Old Man Warner that the north village talks of stopping the lottery yet was one in the front line while they all “finish quickly”.

Still, these are all in keeping with the suspenseful theme of the Lottery. The discrepancy in the expression of symbols and the succession of events and the characters' behavior, express the underlying supporting theme - a struggle to keep with the lottery routine because of the fear of change - which necessarily disguises the morbid evils of man, hence making the central theme more horrific.

Lastly, the point of view and plot that Jackson uses aids the development of suspense theme of the story. Although often, the foreshadowing element of The Lottery is not recognized - the use of the other elements mentioned above prove this point that Jackson intended to present The Lottery in such a way that later event, most especially the ending, is prepared for. Moreover, it is the omniscient objective-limited point of view used in The Lottery that obscures the foreshadowing element. On the other hand, it was again preferred for keeping with the detached un-feeling cruelty theme that dominates the entire narrative.

The Lottery's characters, style (dialogue, tone, and irony), plot, point of view, and the interplay of themes, were all developed around the central theme of the story - the greatness of how the horrors of man's evil could be. Shirley Jackson's use or intended lack of use of these short story elements was able to set the atmosphere of the story, to create the suspense/horror theme of The Lottery, and finally to prepare for its shock ending. All these make it an interesting, and credible literary piece, no matter how controversial.

Mr. Toad is the heart of Grahame's tale. Without the chapter, it would be impossible for Kenneth Grahame to share his book's purpose - to capture the love of both children and grown-ups for its clever morale. Let us examine how Grahame wove the event in which, led by Mr. Badger, Rat and Mole visited their friend Toad “on their mission of mercy”.

The company of three marched to Toad's dwelling, then upon the order of Mr. Badger, Rat and Mole seized Toad who was then clad in a mischievous but clowny motor-outfit. Rat and Mole took him inside and the defiant Toad was stripped off his pretentious overcoat, cap, and goggles.

Enough of the proud Mr. Toad squandering joy rides - that was the Mr. Toad "mission of mercy" in “The Wind in the Willows.” Toady had been ignoring the counsel of his friends. He had been out spending the rest of his father's money, going out on a rampaging joy ride, and getting into all sorts of trouble. And worst of all, Toad liked his new adventure. He wanted it.

Such was the central theme given out by Grahame throughout “The Wind in the Willows”- that whenever a decently creature like Mr. Toad tries to fit into a different setting - a new environment or a new garb other than the one he is perfectly accustomed to, then he is getting himself into the worst kind of danger.

Sensible brutes of nature could get themselves all tangled as they get torn between the grown-up love of security - of what is right and safe, and on the other hand the child-like love of adventure - the challenging and exciting. This was Toad's dilemma in “The Wind in the Willows.” It's as if a luring wind tempts Mr. Toad to go out on an adventure every time he tries to contentedly sip his coffee. - the reason why the childish Toady disregarded all the warnings that his friends had given him when Badger, Rat, and Mole only wanted to stop their friend from making a fool of himself and giving creatures like them such a bad name. But then Mr. Toad seemed oblivious and caught up to his new-found bliss...

Oh a child should love Toady for this! - a fantastic creature who cares only of being carefree - pure fun exploration with no laws, without all sense of cold maturity, and delighting of nothing else but a dreamy world in the eyes of a child. Only with the exception that Toady, or some other nicely beasts like him “The Wind in the Willows” wanting an out-of-the-ordinary quest - would soon be sure to get into all sorts of danger, confused emotion, trouble, then reprimand, punishment, and eventual regret.

'Don't go out into the woods,' "listen to me when I"m talking' - says Mom to her little boy - this - a child is reminded while reading Grahame's story about a mature Badger disciplining a youngling Mr. Toady. Those who would read the book will discover we all are either children or adults (which is why “The Wind in the Willows” is such a classic for kids and grownups as well).

Grahame finally instructs in “The Wind in the Willows” to keep put - for human beings and animals alike perform best when not behaving so unlike their usual selves, definitely not over and beyond what is expected off them. - All creatures do best in an environment they are used to. Our friends will stay on our side through thick and thin, but we have to be sensible, to bear with them and learn to listen. For even when they are lecturing, friends are supporting us. Remember the best of friends always want the best for their team.
Reference: Grahame, Kenneth. “The Wind in the Willows.” New York: Bantam, 1982.