This makes people superstitious, but, in the same time, it makes them combine fate with free will as they act out of their own free will with the intention to alter fate. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" describes how superstitious people can contribute to altering fate. Superstitious people are disadvantaged because of their beliefs and because of their absurd theories. Also, the fact that they are superstitious prevents them from acting logically and morally.

Jackson's characters willingly chose to sacrifice a member of their community in order for their crops to grow. All of the village's members present at the reunion agree that fate is the only one that decides who is going to die. Tessie also agrees and she accepts the ritual as being vital for the well-being of the village.

However, after her family is chosen...

In addition, when her name is the last one that is taken out of the wooden box, she claims that the lottery is not fair and that it is not right to murder a human being because of a superstition. Apparently, people are ready to accept the existence of fate and of accidents, as long as they are not involved.
Generally, most results have a cause, and, those that haven't got one are a result of fate. Fate refers to everything that happens without having a rational motive, and without any human intervention.

Works Cited

Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. 1948

Jensen, Henning. Morality and Luck. Cambridge University Pres: 1984.

Smith, Jennifer. Superstition is Ormerod's way. Lexington Herald-Leader (02 Dec. 2006)