What are the conflict and resolution in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?

 In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery," the central conflict comes from the tradition of the lottery itself, which leads to a shocking and violent conclusion that stands in stark contrast with the seemingly peaceful and idyllic setting at the beginning of the story.

The conflict arises from the blind adherence to tradition. The townspeople gather every year to participate in a lottery where the "winner" will be stoned to death. The reader is initially unaware of the purpose of the lottery, making the eventual reveal all the more disturbing. The conflict manifests in both societal and individual terms: society vs. individual, tradition vs. morality, and the passive acceptance of violence.

The resolution occurs at the end of the story when Tessie Hutchinson becomes the unlucky person to draw the paper with the black mark. Despite her protests that the lottery is not fair, she is stoned to death by the other villagers, including her own family members. This resolution does not solve the underlying issue or critique the brutal ritual but rather completes the cycle of the lottery for that year, hinting at the perpetuation of violence and blind adherence to tradition without questioning its morality.