Fate and Chance

Fate and Chance appears as a literary theme in 5 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.

The protagonist’s journey is driven by a series of chance encounters and fateful decisions, from meeting Carlos to escaping Rio Medio, underscoring the unpredictable nature of life and romance.

Events unfold with a sense of inevitability and 'punctualness,' as if driven by fate, yet chance encounters and accidents—like the meeting in the café—set the entire adventure in motion.

Gambling, both literal and metaphorical, drives the plot—from the card game that ruins John to his reliance on dice for survival, and the chance encounters that shape the characters' destinies.

The story emphasizes how a series of seemingly minor coincidences and chance encounters—such as the fracas by the postern gate—inexorably shape the destinies of the characters, forging an unbreakable chain of events.

Lanyard frequently reflects on luck and gambling, both literally at the roulette table and metaphorically in his criminal career, acknowledging that his success depends on the 'blindly impartial casts of Chance' and that his run of good fortune must eventually end.