In "The Lottery", how are the main characters perceived by others in the story and how do these characters affect society as a whole?

There are two main characters in the story, in terms of
social importance. They are Mr. Summers, the wealthiest man in town, and Mr. Graves, the
second most powerful man in town. Both men seem to be in charge of the proceedings, and
their positions are generally and meekly accepted by the rest of the
town.

The other characters are their "flock," so to speak.
They are led by these men in carryiing out this age-old
ritual.

Some critics suggest that these men represent the
upper-class members of our society, while the rest of the town represents the working
class.

The members of the society perceive the two
"organizers" much the way they perceive everything else about this story: they take
everything in stride; there is a pervasive sense that this day is simply "business as
usual," which the reader believes until the story's
end.

Summers and Graves are separate
from the rest of the town because of their status, as well as the part they play in
running the lottery. There is no overt indication that they are also a part of the
lottery system  (of if they are supposed to be, are they really?
 they organize the collection of the names...); it's impossible to know.  However, it is
their acceptance and governing of the process that allows it to move
forward.

And while one character, Mr. Adams, questions the
purpose of continuing the proceedings while other towns have stopped, his opinion is
meaningless as he stands at the front of the group when the stoning
begins.