When you fall into the ocean, it's nearly impossible to fight back the current. This is the same story with fate. The evaluation of these three texts based on the Chinese proverb “When the wind of change blows, some build walls while others build windmills” influenced me to decide that change can either cause you to be a victim of fate or an agent of free will. Devices such as hyperboles, Metaphors, and moods helped create a more detailed idea of the three texts. In the three texts The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and River and Tides which was directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer we learn that the fear of the unknown holds us back, but our fate is what leads us to greatness because it’s impossible to know what affect …show more content…
In the book “ The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, the crystal merchant neglected himself of what he truly wanted in life and in result wasted most of his life being a merchant, when what he really wanted to do was travel to Mecca. The crystal merchant was very direct when saying “‘You want to realize your Dreams. I just want to dream about Mecca’” (Coelho 25). The merchant spoke about how he could only dream about what he wanted and ends up holding himself back from his dreams because he feels as if they are too far to reach when all he has to do is actually try. He doesn't let his ideas or thoughts become more than a dream which shows how he builds walls. The use of the hyperbole within the statement, “Now it was too late to do anything else” (Coelho 25), makes me stop to think about how he never gave himself a chance to put down the walls within himself in order to achieve his dreams. Why would he hold himself back as much as he did? It’s extremely important to go for what you want because there is no point in spending your time wishing for something that you’ll never try to accomplish. The use of the hyperbole, which is a figure of speech where the truth is being exaggerated, made me realize how deeply the merchant feels, he can’t fulfill his dreams and is in some way overemphasizing the difficulty of fighting for what he wants. I believe he needs to stop dreaming and actually start …show more content…
In the video “Rivers and Tides” directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer the director shows his admiration of the art created by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy by connecting the scenes with the art and interpreting the artist's passion through his craft. The director demonstrated how you can't avoid what is meant to happen to you. At one point in the documentary we see how the art is being submerged in different environments and even though the environments are changing the art stays the same. It stands its ground and stays reluctant to change under its situation. The art holds itself together while its surroundings begin to change and it doesn’t matter how large the changes are the art continues standing its ground. In the video we see how the water and the trees surround the cone and even though everything begins to change and grow in power the cone remains intact. Mood is created by the ambience or aura the narrator provides. The mood in the video is created by the visual representations we see within the different factors of the video such as the sounds, scenes, and lighting. Most of the video we hear music playing which affects how the viewers feel during the time they watch the video. As I watched the video, The music changed my mood and made me feel more calm. Even Though I did feel a sense of Tranquility, the music wasn't exactly enjoyable and the scenes were kind of repetitive and
There are many unpredictable and ungovernable accidents, coincidences, and chances that drive the universe and can ultimately affect the events of a person’s life. One of the main concepts surrounding David Guterson’s novel, Snow Falling on Cedars, is the power of free will vs. fate. The last sentence of the novel: “accident ruled every corner of the universe except the chambers of the human heart” explains the lack of control that humans have on the forces surrounding them compared to the control they have over their actions or decisions and the impact that it has. Snow Falling on Cedars looks closely at the effect free will and fate has through the murder trial that occurs post World War II in the story where a Japanese American, Kabuo Miyamoto, is charged with the murder of an American, Carl Heine. As the trial takes place, the story interconnects the characters one of who is Ishmael Chambers, a journalist who may be Kabuo’s only hope but struggles with the decision to do what’s right as he was left burned by Kabuo’s wife and his childhood love, Hatsue. The notion of chance and free will can be seen especially in the character of Ishmael who struggles against the effects of the war and Hatsue leaving him. And as a Japanese American during the war, Hatsue herself displays the power of free will in her self-acceptance and in creating a balance in her life. Apart from the portrayal of free will vs. chance in the development of the characters, certain events in the novel such as the case of Carl Heine’s death and the war itself exhibits similar themes. However, unlike Carl’s death, the war shows that there are instances where circumstance may be the result of human actions. In David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars, the events tha...
Fate is “something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune; lot,” while free will is “the doctrine that the conduct of human beings expresses person choice and is not simply determined by physical or divine forces.” Kurt Vonnegut uses Billy’s experiences in Slaughterhouse-Five to display the idea that free will is all but an illusion; all decisions in life are made by influences, whether from within or from
In society, people have varying opinions on fate. Many question whether life’s events are pre-determined by fate or whether people have a destiny to serve a greater purpose. Fate versus free will is an archaic topic among philosophers that is ultimately up for interpretation.The question on whether or not something else is controlling life’s events or if they are simply a coincidence faces us in some point of our lives. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays with the idea of fate and its control on the events in the play. He forces us to realize the destiny between Romeo and Juliet involves the fate between the two opposing households as well. Shakespeare blurs the line between fate and free will in his play Romeo and Juliet to show that the outstanding cause of Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy was not something decided- it was fate. It is evident by the events in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that fate was the main cause of the tragedy in the play, and that Romeo and Juliet held the destiny to finally end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.
Some people may not believe that fate truthfully exist in the world. Part of the population doubts that there are things that is meant or supposed to happen thinking that they will always have a way to get around troubling predication, knowing that thing won’t just turn out that one certain way. They are certain of whatever happens in their life is due to the decision they made from their free will. Others, though, believe their life is an inevitable and all events that happen is predestined and planed out for them like a map of life. Or what Shakespeare calls fate. In Shakespeare’s play, fate plays a role like an exceptional crucial force in Romeo and Juliet. Fate leads the two young lovers to come across each other. The moment Juliet and
Fate is an old, debated concept. Do one's actions truly play a role in determining one's life? Is fate free to some or is it binding to others, in that no individual can make completely individual decisions, and therefore, no one is truly free. Nowadays, fate is a subject often rejected in society, as it is seen as too big, too idealistic, and too hard to wrap a person's head around. However, at the time of Antigone, the concept was a terrifying reality for most people.
Have you ever encountered problems while trying to fulfill a goal in your life? In the book The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho, a shepherd boy named Santiago overcomes obstacles to reach his personal legend. Throughout the book Santiago encounters many friends to help him fulfill his destiny. Santiago encounters many problems throughout the story. He overcomes them with the help of his friends and his wife-to-be. These problems shape Santiago into a dignified man of many traits.
are characters that can be defined by their traits as certain archetypes. All novels and films contain archetypes that allow their audience to understand and relate more to
...that fate. Events that lead to other events will eventually lead one to their fate. “Oedipus the King” is a great play that sets an example of what fate is. Oedipus chooses to flee from home, in attempt to avoid the god’s statement of his fate from coming true. However, Oedipus’s decision for fleeing is what was necessary to make his fate come true. Undoubtedly, this is what was meant to happen because Oedipus allowed it to. Perhaps if Oedipus ignored the god and never did a thing then perhaps the outcome could have been different for Oedipus. However it did not turn out that way and the choices that Oedipus made is what led him to his doom.
Will Santiago go after his dream? In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago has had the same dream twice. He takes it upon himself to discover what this dream means and where the treasure in the dream is located. The people and challenges he faces along the way all present him with a sacrifice. When trying to achieve his goal, Santiago sacrifices his sheep, Fatima temporarily, gold, and time.
Predestination, fate and density are nonexistent. There is no higher power forcing one’s self to take a certain route; God has not chosen a destination for anyone. Every human has the ability to decide his/ her course of action. It is free will that will lead to doom or salvation. This paper will explore the idea of predestination in relevance to the play No Exit as well as in the context of the day to day life of the average individual.
Strong, C. A. "Fate and Free Will." The Journal of Philosophy Psychology and Scientific Methods.Vol. 15, No. 1 (1918): 5-9. JSTOR. Web. 08 May 2014. .
Fate may state what will be in one's life however, how that destiny comes about is a matter of man's own choice. In other words, incidents don't occur because our destinies are written. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare expertly uses the theme of fate vs. free will and raises the pre-eminent question of which holds power over the characters. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, fate is not the cause of his downfall, his own desires and choices prove to be the deciding factor.
Humans enjoy choices. Whether the decision is putting on a coat in the morning or participating in an exhilarating activity like skydiving, every decision starts with the ability to make a choice. That ability to decide reflects a state of free will. Free will tells us we are essentially is in charge of our choices. Fate guides those who have no control over their choices. While the origin of fate and free will remain a mystery, these ideas can be traced back for centuries and found in our daily lives: in our code of ethics, politics, and religions. Kurt Vonnegut wrestles with the coexistence of fate and free will, ultimately arguing fate dominantes.
The concept of fate has existed since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed very strongly in fate, which can be defined as either a power beyond human control that determines events, or the outcome or end. In "Oedipus Rex," King Oedipus lives and dies by fate. Fate influences the entire plot, thereby allowing for some interesting developments that may be unpredictable to the audience.
Fate and freewill are two sides of the same coin. The differences are that fate is the uncontrollable force that shapes one’s destiny, while freewill is the power one has to mold his own future. The confounding mystery is, which of the two governs life? The famous tragedian, Sophocles, in his play, Oedipus the King, illustrates the perplexity of the question. Oedipus’s life is one of great tragedy and he experiences many things throughout his life, but the essence of the play is comprised up of the battle of fate versus freewill.