In the third paragraph of "The Lottery," Jackson suggests to the reader that the lottery is, in fact, a serious event. She does this by employing descriptions of the characters which evoke an image of nervousness and stress in the reader's mind. The men, for example, stand in groups together which are some distance away from the "pile of stones." This implies an unconscious desire to be removed from the impending violence. Moreover, the men speak quietly and refrain from laughing, reinforcing the idea that the lottery is a serious event.
In addition, the families assemble together and in a very specific order, which further reinforces the severity of this event. Each family, for example, stands as a complete unit (consisting of parents and children) and, within each unit, each member has his place:
"Bobby came quickly and took his place between his father and his oldest brother."
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