History of the Peloponnesian War · Theme
Fate and Human Agency
How History of the Peloponnesian War develops Fate and Human Agency.
The interplay between chance events (like the plague or storms) and deliberate human action is a recurring theme, with characters often debating whether outcomes are determined by fortune, divine will, or their own choices.
Where it surfaces
- The State of Greece from the Earliest Times to the Commencement of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides emphasizes human actions—migrations, alliances, naval development—over divine intervention, and critiques uncritical acceptance of tradition.
- XI
Natural disasters (plague, earthquakes, tidal waves) are presented as forces beyond human control that shape the course of the war.
- The Melian Dialogue
The Melians place their hope in fortune, the gods, and Spartan intervention, while the Athenians warn against relying on hope when resources are insufficient.
- XXII
The Athenians' inability to act decisively after the failed attack underscores the tension between human planning and the unfolding of events beyond their control.
- The Final Catastrophe
The Athenians interpret thunder and rain as omens of ruin, reflecting the interplay between human decision-making and perceived divine will in the face of disaster.