Irony is used in various ways. For instance, the villagers' casual attitude towards a deadly ritual creates a contrast that shows the horror beneath the surface.
The meaning of 'The Lottery' could be seen as a cautionary tale about the power of collective behavior and the importance of critical thinking. It might also suggest that even seemingly innocent rituals can have hidden and disturbing implications.
The original intention of the lottery short story could have been to create a fictional scenario that challenges conventional notions of fairness and justice. Maybe it was intended to shock or surprise readers and prompt discussions on moral and ethical issues.
To be honest, I can't recall who wins the lottery precisely in that short story. It's a story that keeps you guessing until the end. Maybe you should give it a read and figure it out for yourself.
Symbols in short stories are often used to represent deeper meanings. For example, a red rose might symbolize love. Irony, on the other hand, can be situational or verbal. In a short story, a character might say one thing but mean another, which is verbal irony. Situational irony could be when the outcome is the opposite of what is expected. For instance, a man spends his whole life saving for retirement but then passes away just before he can enjoy it.
The big irony in the story is that Mathilde's efforts to restore a necklace she thought was valuable were in vain because it wasn't actually. Her striving for something that didn't matter much in the end is the core irony.