Fate in Literature: Film and Fiction Compared

Introduction: Defining Fate in Literature

Stories — whether presented in film, print, or oral tradition — share important commonalities. One of the most significant shared elements in stories that have persisted for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years is the role of fate. Fate in literature can be broadly defined as the power, influence, or will of a superior or supernatural force that stages and predetermines events in the journey of a story's main character.

A classic example is the tragedy of Oedipus Rex, the infamous tale of a king who desperately seeks to outrun, challenge, and contradict fate, yet is unable to do so because the supernatural forces above him — the Gods — have predetermined and staged inevitable events in his life. Fate is a compelling topic to explore in relation to storytelling because it challenges the notion of free will. This is important because in many adventures or epics, free will is closely associated with concepts of uncertainty and adventure, both of which generate excitement. If fate is inevitable, it diminishes the excitement of a story by removing meaning and value from the decisions characters make.

On the other hand, fate can also be considered a blessing or a source of comfort, because both readers and characters can release themselves from guilt and disappointment by placing responsibility for the final outcome on supernatural forces beyond their control. Analyzing fate in literature requires accepting that there are forces beyond any character's control. It can be compared to a puppet show, where a puppeteer controls all the characters while simultaneously providing the audience with the illusion that those characters possess free will.

In earlier works of literature, especially those of ancient Greek origin, the supernatural forces that determine fate are easy to identify. The same can be said for Medieval and Renaissance literature, which was heavily influenced by Christianity; in both periods, God appears as the determining supernatural force behind fate. In more contemporary and modern forms of literature — including film — the factors behind fate are more diversified and complex. Beginning primarily in the Victorian Era, social and cultural issues came to the forefront of literary exploration, and less emphasis was placed on supernatural or spiritual forces. Instead, social, economic, cultural, and governmental systems became the determining forces of fate.

Works Cited

Bangert, Andrea. "Epictetus and Oedipus." Diss. UCSC, 2001. Web. 21 Feb. 2011.

Bloom, Harold. Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Print.

Booker, M. Keith. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2011. Print.

"Defining Fate." Fate. Princeton University, 15 Sept. 2003. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.

The Mission. Dir. Roland Joffé. Perf. Robert De Niro. Warner Brothers, 1986. DVD.

Tsotsi. Dir. Gavin Hood. Perf. Presley Chweneyagae. Miramax Films, 2005. DVD.