What the falling action in by Shirley Jackson?

The falling action in Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" occurs after Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death by her fellow villagers. The mood in the village quickly shifts from one of excitement and anticipation to one of remorse and guilt. The villagers begin to realize the gravity of what they have done, and some even express regret for having participated in the lottery.

The falling action serves to highlight the story's central theme, which is the dangers of blindly following tradition and the importance of individual conscience. By showing the villagers' reaction to Tessie's death, Jackson demonstrates how easily people can be swayed by the opinions of others, even when those opinions are clearly wrong. The falling action also serves to underscore the story's sense of irony, as the villagers are ultimately punished for their own actions.