# Fortune — Poetry character guide

> Fortune in Poetry by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** frowning Fortune, fickle Fortune

**First appearance:** 0001-the-rape-of-lucrece

## Who they are

The personified goddess of luck, blamed for misfortunes.

## In the story

### [The Passionate Pilgrim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/the-passionate-pilgrim)

Addressed as 'frowning Fortune' in a lament about inconstancy.

### [Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/sonnets-to-sundry-notes-of-music)

Invoked as 'frowning Fortune, cursed, fickle dame' and later as 'fickle Fortune' who beguiles both the nightingale and the speaker.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xviii)

Cursed as fickle and frowning, blamed for the shepherd's loss.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxi)

Personified as fickle, smiling then frowning, causing the poet's and the nightingale's downfall.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxv)

Fortune is depicted as barring the speaker from public triumph, yet the speaker finds joy elsewhere.

### [XC](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xc)

Personified as spiteful, joining with the world to make the speaker bow.

### [Sonnet CXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxi)

Addressed as the guilty goddess responsible for the speaker's harmful deeds and public life.

### [CXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxxiv)

Mentioned as a potential parent of love, but rejected.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters/fortune
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters