Final answer:
The theme in "The Lottery" suggests that life is often influenced by chance, luck, or fate, with individuals sometimes attributing their fortunes to these elements and raising questions about free will versus determinism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Another theme in "The Lottery" might be that much of life is a result of chance, luck, or fate. People often harbor conflicting beliefs about the nature of control and agency in life. On one hand, they view themselves as responsible for their own actions and as having the ability to make choices; on the other hand, they wonder if there is a greater force or predetermined plan at work, which implies that certain outcomes are beyond individual control.
This duality is reflected in the experiences of individuals who attribute their success or failure to luck, such as the anecdotal tales of lottery winners who either fortunately win big after persistent playing, or tragically never discover their winning ticket. This perception is further influenced by the human tendency to look for patterns in random events, mistakenly attributing significance to coincidences or 'lucky' streaks without recognizing the role of randomness in these outcomes.
Finally, considering the philosophical question of free will versus determinism, we ponder whether humans are truly autonomous in their decisions or if there's an external force guiding their lives, thereby affecting notions of responsibility and accountability in society. While most lean towards a sense of agency and freedom in their choices, the existence of belief in fate or destiny serves as a counterpoint to this view. "The Lottery" encapsulates this theme by showing how individuals and a community can relinquish responsibility to tradition and chance, even when it leads to negative outcomes.