Explain what is learned by the actions of the characters in the excerpt. The lottery was a happy occasion because the men told jokes, the children laughed, and the women were able to exchange gossip. The lottery may not have been a happy occasion because the men smiled rather than laughed, and the children were apparently very hesitant to join their families when it started. Most of the villagers were indifferent about the lottery since it was held every year, and they already knew the outcome this time. Most of the villagers were ready to do away with the lottery since it was an outdated custom, carried over from years past.