How do the short stories by Shirley Jackson Charles and The Lottery compare to each other?

In the story "The Lottery" the characters are acting as if the lottery will be a good thing. The title infers that they will be winning something. In most cases people enter a lottery to win a good prize.

As we read on in the story, one learns that the lottery is a bad thing. Winning means someones death by stoning.

In the beginning of the story, Laurie's behavior at home is very suspicious. He tells energetic stories about Charles's disrespectful behavior at school but at the same time portrays some of the same characteristics while at home.

For a good while, Laurie succeeded in covering up his actions in school, but the truth was bound to come out. Laurie probably knew that eventually his parents were going to find out that he wasn't a very well behaved boy. It was just a matter of time.