As far as the theme in this novella is concerned , the author lampoons the power of tradition and the religious ritual. People are spritually paralyzed under the oppression and control of the forces of the traditional institution. Mrs Huchinson is a typical rebellious representative when she gets the unfortunate lottery,who exposes the unfairness and cruelty of the tradition,saying“It isn’t fair,it isn’t right”However , desperately ,she is suppressed by the majority with deeply traditional and religious value . In this sense, as a part of the theme, Jackson also shows the readers that the sharp conflict between the individual and the community, when Mrs Hutchinson’s husband draws the lottery, she is the very person against the outcome, but no one stands at her side , neither dose her husband ; when she gets the lottery, no one expresses sympathy on her,even her family is opposite with her ,here,“some one gave little Dave a few pebbles”just reveals the human nature’s indifferent and numb.