Fortune and Fate

Fortune and Fate 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 narrative repeatedly emphasizes Bellarion's reliance on luck, chance, and destiny, from his nickname 'the Fortunate' to the 'winds of fate' that carry him into adventures, suggesting that success is as much a product of circumstance as of skill.

Gil Blas's life is shaped by unpredictable twists of luck—both good and bad—suggesting that fortune plays a capricious role in human affairs, though cleverness and adaptability can mitigate its blows.

The narrative emphasizes the role of luck and unpredictable fortune in shaping Simplicissimus's life, as he rises and falls through chance events, often with ironic or absurd outcomes.

Fortune is depicted as a powerful, capricious force that shapes human lives, often leading characters through adversity to unexpected joy or ruin, as in the stories of Madam Beritola's losses and the three sisters' ill-fated loves.

The plot is driven by coincidences, mistaken identities, and unexpected revelations (e.g., Tom's parentage), suggesting that fortune plays a significant role in human affairs, often rewarding virtue and punishing vice in unexpected ways.