Fate and Free Will

Where it surfaces

• III: Apollo and Daphne—Pyramus and Thisbe—Cephalus and Procris

  The characters are caught between their own choices and the inescapable outcomes set by divine will or misunderstanding, as seen in the tragic ends of Pyramus and Thisbe and Cephalus and Procris.

• Pyramus and Thisbe

  The lovers' plan to defy their parents' prohibition ends in tragedy, highlighting the interplay of choice and destiny.

• Cephalus and Procris

  Despite Cephalus's faithfulness and Procris's gifts, a series of misunderstandings and coincidences lead to an inescapable tragic outcome, highlighting the interplay of choice and destiny.

• Diana and Actaeon

  Actaeon is described as being 'led thither by his destiny,' suggesting that his fate was predetermined, despite his innocent intentions.

• Phaëton

  Despite Apollo's warnings and the clear dangers, Phaëton exercises his free will to pursue his desire, setting in motion his tragic fate.

• XIII: Nisus and Scylla—Echo and Narcissus—Clytie—Hero and Leander

  Fate decrees Megara's safety depends on Nisus's lock; Scylla's choice to cut it defies fate but leads to tragedy. Leander's fate is sealed by the storm despite his will.

• Hero and Leander

  Leander ignores storm warnings, choosing love over safety, leading to his fated drowning.

• XV: The Graeae or Gray-Maids—Perseus—Medusa—Atlas—Andromeda

  Prophecies drive the actions of Acrisius and Atlas, yet Perseus actively shapes his destiny through courage.

• Monsters

  Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother, despite efforts to avoid it, highlighting the inescapability of fate.

• The Sphinx

  Oedipus's attempts to avoid the prophecy only fulfill it, illustrating the inescapability of fate.

• Meleager and Atalanta

  Meleager's life is bound to a brand by the Fates, yet his mother's choice to burn it fulfills the prophecy; Atalanta's oracle warns against marriage, but she is ultimately overcome by love.

• Theseus—Daedalus—Castor and Pollux

  Theseus's choice to sail under black sails and his forgetfulness lead to Aegeus's suicide, illustrating the interplay of fate and personal action.

• Theseus

  Theseus's choices, such as forgetting to change the sails, lead to his father's suicide, highlighting the interplay of fate and personal actions.

• Thetis

  Jupiter alters his plans based on the prophecy, showing how fate overrides even divine desire.

• XXIII: Achelous and Hercules—Admetus and Alcestis—Antigone—Penelope

  The Fates' decree that Admetus must find a substitute, and the doomed fate of Oedipus' family, underscore the tension between destiny and personal choice.

• Admetus and Alcestis

  The Fates decree that Admetus must die unless a substitute is found; Alcestis's choice to die in his place highlights the tension between predetermined fate and human agency.

• Antigone

  The Oedipus family is doomed by an unrelenting fate, yet Antigone exercises free will in defying Creon's edict to bury her brother.

• Penelope

  Penelope exercises free will in choosing to remain faithful to Ulysses and in her clever delaying tactics, while the suitors' fate is tied to Ulysses' eventual return.

• Arion—Ibycus—Simonides—Sappho

  The poets' fates are intertwined with divine intervention and the consequences of their actions, as seen in Arion's rescue and Ibycus's divinely revealed murder.

• Ibycus

  The murderers' guilt is exposed by the cranes, suggesting an inescapable fate that brings hidden crimes to light.

• Simonides

  Simonides' piety and the intervention of Castor and Pollux demonstrate the role of fate and divine will in sparing him from the collapse.

• XXVII: The Trojan War

  The war's outcome is fated (Troy must fall), yet characters like Achilles and Hector make choices that shape events, illustrating the tension between destiny and personal agency.

• The Iliad

  The gods intervene but fate ultimately decrees Troy's fall; Achilles chooses revenge yet is bound by destiny; Jupiter yields to fate regarding Sarpedon's death.

• The Fall of Troy—Return of the Greeks—Orestes and Electra

  The fall of Troy is portrayed as fated, with prophecies and divine interventions (e.g., the Palladium, the arrows of Hercules) guiding events, while characters like Orestes grapple with the command of the oracle versus personal moral horror.

• The Fall of Troy

  Despite warnings and omens, the Trojans choose to bring the horse into the city, fulfilling the prophecy of Troy's fall; Cassandra's unheeded prophecies underscore the tension between fate and human action.

• Agamemnon, Orestes, and Electra

  Orestes is driven by the commands of the Delphic oracle and the Furies, yet his choices and actions lead to his eventual acquittal, highlighting the tension between divine will and human agency.

• Adventures of Ulysses—The Lotus-Eaters—Cyclopes—Circe—Sirens—Scylla and Charybdis—Calypso

  Ulysses' choices, such as taunting Polyphemus and his crew's decision to open the wind bag or slay the cattle, interact with divine will and predetermined outcomes.

• Return of Ulysses

  Ulysses' fate is intertwined with his own choices and the actions of his crew, such as opening the bag of winds, which alters their destiny.

• Scylla and Charybdis

  Ulysses' crew chooses to violate the sacred cattle despite warnings, leading to their inevitable destruction, highlighting the tension between fate and human choice.

• The Phaeacians—Fate of the Suitors

  Ulysses' return is guided by divine intervention (Minerva, Neptune) yet requires his own cunning and planning to reclaim his household.

• The Phaeacians

  Ulysses' journey home is guided by divine intervention (Minerva) and human choice (the Phaeacians' aid), yet Neptune's wrath shows the limits of free will against fate.

• Fate of the Suitors

  Ulysses' return and the suitors' downfall are guided by divine intervention (Minerva) yet also by Ulysses' own cunning and actions.

• Adventures of Aeneas—The Harpies—Dido—Palinurus

  The interplay of divine intervention (Juno's wrath, Neptune's aid) and Aeneas's determined actions highlights the tension between fate and human agency.

• Adventures of Aeneas

  Aeneas is guided by oracles and divine warnings (the bleeding bush, the dream) yet must navigate obstacles raised by hostile gods like Juno.

• Dido

  Aeneas is torn between his personal desire to stay with Dido and his fated mission to found Rome, ultimately obeying divine command.

• Palinurus

  Neptune's demand for a life as ransom and Palinurus's doomed fate illustrate the tension between divine decree and human agency.

• XXXII: The Infernal Regions—The Sibyl

  Aeneas's journey to the underworld is guided by fate, as he seeks his father to learn the destiny of Rome, while the Sibyl's prophetic leaves and the oracles of the Sibylline Books represent the interplay of fate and human choice.

• The Infernal Regions

  Anchises reveals the predetermined future of Rome, while the punishments in Tartarus reflect moral choices made in life, highlighting the interplay of fate and personal responsibility.

• The Sibyl

  The Sibyl's prophetic leaves, which can be scattered by the wind, symbolize the fragility of fate and the consequences of human choices.

• Camilla—Evander—Nisus and Euryalus—Mezentius—Turnus

  Aeneas's destiny to found Rome is fulfilled through oracles and omens (the eating of tables), while Juno's interference represents the struggle against fate.

• Opening the Gates of Janus

  Juno's divine intervention overrides the king's refusal, forcing the country into war and illustrating the tension between human choice and divine will.

• Evander

  Aeneas follows the divine vision and his destined path, yet must actively choose to obey and persevere.

• Infant Rome

  The prophecy that the Etruscans' leader must come from across the sea, and Evander's recognition of Aeneas as the destined leader, underscore the role of fate in shaping events.

• Pallas, Camilla, Turnus

  The conflict is driven by destiny's decree favoring Aeneas, while Turnus's choices and divine abandonment highlight the tension between fate and personal agency.

• Oracles

  Oracles were consulted to learn about fate and future events, reflecting the tension between divine predestination and human agency.

• Northern Mythology—Valhalla—The Valkyrior

  The Norns (Urdur, Verdandi, Skuld) dispense fate, engraving runes on a shield, while Odin seeks to gather heroes to influence the final battle.

• Northern Mythology

  The Norns (Urdur, Verdandi, Skuld) dispense fate, engraving runes on a metal shield, emphasizing the inescapable nature of destiny in Norse mythology.

• The Valkyrie

  The Valkyrie determine who shall die in battle, embodying fate.

• Of Loki and His Progeny

  The gods' foreknowledge of the monsters' future evil drives their actions, yet they are unable to prevent the eventual doom (Ragnarok).

• XL: The Death of Baldur—The Elves—Runic Letters—Iceland—Teutonic Mythology—Nibelungen Lied

  Baldur's death is foretold by dreams, and despite Frigga's efforts to protect him, Loki's manipulation and Hodur's unwitting act fulfill the prophecy, illustrating the tension between fate and attempts to alter it.

• The Death of Baldur

  Despite the gods' efforts to protect Baldur through oaths, Loki's manipulation and the mistletoe's oversight demonstrate the inescapable nature of fate.

• Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods

  The prophecy of Ragnarok is inescapable, with gods and mortals alike fated to perish, yet they choose to fight bravely.

• Wagner’s Nibelungen Ring

  The Norns weave destiny, yet characters like Wotan and Siegfried make choices that accelerate the prophesied doom.

• The Mythical History of England

  Brutus's journey is guided by divine prophecy (Diana's vision) and oracles, yet his actions—such as accidentally killing his father and leading the Trojan exiles—are driven by personal choices and circumstances.

• Leir

  Leir's free choice to disinherit Cordeilla based on flattery sets his fate in motion, yet his later repentance and Cordeilla's intervention restore his throne.

• Ferrex and Porrex

  The brothers' choices to fight and the mother's deliberate act of vengeance shape a tragic outcome, highlighting the interplay of human will and destined ruin.

• Elidure

  Elidure's choice to abdicate and restore his brother demonstrates free will overcoming the fate of dynastic conflict.

• Cassibellaunus

  Caesar's decision to retreat reflects the interplay of fate and choice in the outcome of the invasion.

• Kymbelinus, or Cymbeline

  The narrative shows how Cymbeline's fate as a hostage leads to his peaceful reign, while his sons' choice to rebel brings war and death.

• III: Merlin

  Merlin is aware of his 'fatal destiny' yet imparts secrets to Viviane, leading to his imprisonment; his prophecy to Gawain about the Graal quest underscores predestined events.

• IV: Arthur

  Arthur's destiny as king is revealed through the miraculous sword in the stone, while Merlin's prophecies and enchantments guide events, blending fate with human action.

• King Arthur

  Merlin's prophecy that one brother must fall in battle and his orchestration of Uther's deception highlight the tension between destiny and human choice.

• Arthur Chosen King

  The miraculous sword in the stone represents divine fate choosing Arthur, while the nobles' opposition and Arthur's actions show the interplay of human will.

• Guenever

  Merlin's prophecies and plans guide Arthur's actions, yet Arthur's choices in battle and love shape the outcome.

• Arthur (Continued)

  Merlin's prophecies and the enchanted sword from the Lady of the Lake suggest a predetermined destiny for Arthur.

• King Arthur Gets a Sword from the Lady of the Lake

  Merlin's foreknowledge and enchantment shape events, yet Arthur's choices and courage determine his fate.

• Launcelot of the Lake

  Launcelot's destiny as the greatest knight is shaped by both his upbringing by the Lady of the Lake and his own choices in battle and love, highlighting the interplay of fate and personal agency.

• XII: Tristram and Isoude

  The accidental consumption of the love potion and Tristram's oath to King Mark illustrate the tension between destined events and personal choices.

• Sir Tristram

  Tristram's fate is sealed by the deception about the sails, despite his efforts to summon Queen Isoude.

• XXI: The Sangreal (Continued)

  Bohort's choice between rescuing his brother and aiding a maiden demonstrates the tension between personal loyalty and chivalric duty, guided by divine will.

• Sir Bohort

  Bohort's moral dilemma and the divine intervention that prevents him from killing his brother highlight the tension between human choice and providential guidance.

• Sir Launcelot (Resumed)

  Launcelot's attempt to enter the Grail chamber is thwarted by a divine voice, suggesting that his fate is determined by his faith and worthiness.

• Morte d'Arthur

  Arthur's dream of Gawain warns him of his fate, yet he still faces Modred; the prophecy of his return blurs the line between destiny and choice.

• VIII: Pwyll, Prince of Dyved

  Pwyll's rash promise to Gawl threatens his destiny with Rhiannon, but her clever intervention restores their intended path.

• Manawyddan

  The characters are subject to a magical fate imposed by Lloyd, yet Manawyddan's clever actions (catching the mouse, bargaining) exercise free will to reverse the enchantment.

• Taliesin

  Elphin's initial ill luck is reversed by the miraculous appearance of Taliesin, suggesting fate can be altered by divine or magical intervention.

• Beowulf

  Beowulf acknowledges 'Wyrd' (fate) as he faces his final battle, yet he chooses to confront the dragon willingly.

• The Invasion of France

  The prophecy of the aged king and the magical constraints on Rogero highlight the tension between fate and individual choice.

• The Invasion of France (Continued)

  Atlantes attempts to thwart destiny by trapping Rogero in an enchanted castle, but his efforts are ultimately in vain against the will of Heaven.

• Bradamante and Rogero

  Atlantes tries to avert Rogero's prophesied doom by imprisoning him, but his efforts are thwarted by Bradamante's intervention and Rogero's own choices.

• The Orc

  Angelica's capture by the Ebudians and Rogero's entrapment in Atlantes' castle illustrate the tension between fate and individual agency.

• The War in Africa

  The broken truce and Melissa's deception highlight the tension between predetermined outcomes and human choices.

• The Battle of Roncesvalles

  Orlando's choices—ignoring warnings, refusing to sound the horn—lead to his doom, yet he accepts his fate with dignity.

• Huon of Bordeaux

  Huon's choices in the ambush and combat, contrasted with the predetermined conditions imposed by Charlemagne.

• Huon of Bordeaux (Continued)

  Huon's pure conscience protects him from Oberon's enchantments, highlighting the role of moral choice.

• Ogier, the Dane

  The fairy blessings at Ogier's birth predestine his invincibility and immortality, yet his choices and actions shape his path.

• Ogier, the Dane (Continued)

  Ogier's destiny is guided by divine command (angel's message) and his own choices regarding vengeance and mercy.

• Ogier, the Dane (Continued)

  Ogier's choice to leave Morgana and return to Charlemagne's court reflects the tension between fate (his destiny as a hero) and free will.