Fate and Inevitability

The novel's epigraph from Machiavelli and the characters' frequent reflections on luck and doom suggest a fatalistic worldview, where past actions and the criminal life lead inexorably to ruin.

Machiavelli's assertion of a 'first law' of self-preservation suggests an inexorable natural order, hinting at the fatalistic trajectory of the characters.

Seal Skin's prediction that Rico will be killed ('They get 'em all') underscores a fatalistic view of the gangster's life.

Tony's mother's warning that his association with crooks will lead to trouble foreshadows his eventual fate.

Sam's lethargy and refusal to flee, despite Scabby's urging, suggest an acceptance of his inevitable downfall.