Discuss the topic of fatalism as it appears in at least two texts you have read this term.
Sample Solution
Fatalism is the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable. It implies that one’s fate does not depend on his or her own actions, decisions, or behavior but instead is already predetermined by an external force. This concept appears in many works of literature, including William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth and Toni Morrison’s Beloved.
Sample Solution
Fatalism is the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable. It implies that one’s fate does not depend on his or her own actions, decisions, or behavior but instead is already predetermined by an external force. This concept appears in many works of literature, including William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth and Toni Morrison’s Beloved.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, fatalism is a prominent theme throughout the play as it reflects the powerlessness of man against fate. As Macbeth moves forward with his ambition to become King, he finds himself struggling between choosing his own path and following those of the three witches who appear to him at the beginning. He even begins to question if what they tell him will come true: “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” (I. iii.). In this quote, Macbeth expresses his uncertainty about whether he can control what happens next or if everything has been determined for him before he even made any decisions—thus illustrating how fatalism plays a role in his life.
Beloved also features this idea as Sethe often experiences guilt over her decision to kill her child because she feels it was preordained by some higher power: “That part [killing her baby] had nothing to do with judgment; it was taken out of my hands before I ever saw them [the slave catchers] coming up 124″ (Morrison 68). Here Sethe suggests that there was no point for her making conscious choices because everything was already set in stone—again highlighting how fatalistic themes are being expressed within the novel.
Overall, these two texts demonstrate how characters attempt come terms with their lack control over their lives due external forces beyond understanding ultimately leading tragic ends thanks reading!
