But there are also similarities in the characters, the setting, the plot, themes and the use of metaphor and symbolism. For example, the setting of the story is in another village, namely, Greenwich Village in New York City, where the main character, Hilda Clarence, works "as a stenographer in a coal and coke concern" (49), similar to Mr. Summer and his coal business in "The Lottery." Ms. Clarence also refers to herself as a "Village die-hard" (49-50), a description close to what the villagers in "The Lottery" represent. Another main character in "The Villager" is Mr. Harris who comes to the apartment looking to buy furniture for his apartment. Jackson describes him as having "a round agreeable face" (54), much like the face of Mr. Summers. Also, the overall plot in "The Villager" is not clearly expressed until the end of the story, much like "The Lottery" when the reader realizes that the ritual of the lottery...

In addition, the character of Ms. Clarence poses as Mrs. Roberts, the alleged owner of the apartment. Exactly why she does this is not clear, but in some ways, it is reminiscent of Mr. Summers in "The Lottery," for he too poses as a very mysterious person. Morally speaking, Mr. Summers and Ms. Clarence both appear to be quite ambiguous, especially in the way that they misrepresent themselves, Mr. Summers being rather evil instead of good, and Ms. Clarence being sly and cunning. Overall, these stories contain ritual images, such as Mr. Summers and his direction of the lottery and Ms. Clarence with her ritualistic observance of everything in the apartment, much like someone presiding over a mysterious rite of passage as found in "The Lottery."
Bibliography

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery and Other Stories. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1982.