Sophie 's World is a novel that follows the life of two young girls as they enter the world of philosophy. The story starts out in Sophie 's perspective. She begins to receives letters from an anonymous philosopher and strange postcards addressed to a Hilde Moller Knag. In these postcards it states that Sophie is the one that 's going to deliver them to Hilde, even though Sophie has never heard of Hilde until that moment. She becomes very enthralled in the philosopher 's letters, and diligently checks the mail several times a day. She finds out that the letters are being delivered by a dog named Hermes. The philosopher, later revealed as a man named Alberto Knox, has her questioning all sorts of philosophical questions, while also teaching …show more content…
This author turns out to be the father of Hilde and is named Albert Knag. About halfway through the story it switches from Sophie 's perspective to Hilde 's. In Hilde 's world Sophie is nothing more than a book character written by her father as a birthday gift. Though later on Hilde becomes convinced that Sophie is as real as she is. Back inside the story Sophie and Alberto begin to work on a way to try and break free of Albert 's mind and enter into Hilde 's world. In the end they are finally able to do so, but are unable to interact with anyone at first. Right at the end of the story Sophie and Alberto are able to detach a rowboat from the post and Hilde and Albert have to go after it. The story leaves the reader thinking that maybe one day that the four characters may get to speak with one another. The story is definitely thought provoking and is a great insight into the world of …show more content…
In the novel Alberto asks Sophie several philosophical questions. One of the first questions Sophie is asked is, who are you? It 's easy enough to answer this question by giving your name, but a person is not simply a name. To me a person is a combination of their personality, their morals and beliefs, and their actions. Personality, because that 's how they act. Their morals and beliefs, because that is what they believe in. And their actions, because none of the other things matter if a persons actions do not support their personality, morals, and beliefs. Another one of the early questions presented to Sophie by Alberto is, do you believe in fate? In the book Sophie gave several examples of fate, a friend who read horoscopes, hotels that do not use the number 13 for rooms, and black cats. She even mentioned how Democritus had not believed in fate since he was a materialist. I believe in fate, but at the same time I believe that all human beings have free will, which could be seen as a contradiction. To me a person can choose any path they want, but they will always end up where they were meant to. Much like in the Greek myth of Oedipus, where the parents were told that their son would kill his father and marry his mother. No matter how hard the parents tried to escape their fate, they still ended up exactly where the prophecy said they would. Another question Sophie is presented is, what is the difference between a
In Louise Erdrich’s “Tracks';, the readers discovers by the second chapter that there are two narrators, Nanapush and Pauline Puyat. This method of having two narrators telling their stories alternately could be at first confusing, especially if the readers hasn’t been briefed about it or hasn’t read a synopsis of it. Traditionally, there is one narrator in the story, but Erdrich does an effective and spectacular job in combining Nanapush and Pauline’s stories. It is so well written that one might question as he or she reads who is the principal character in this story? Being that there are two narrators, is it Nanapush, the first narrator, him being a participant in the story, who tells his story in the “I'; form? Or is it Pauline, the second narrator, who also narrates in the “I'; form? Upon further reading, the motive for both narrators’ stories become more evident, and by the end of the book, it becomes clear that one character is the driving force for both of the narrators’ stories. This central character is Fleur Pillager. She in fact is the protagonist of “Tracks';. Even though she is limited in dialogues, her actions speak more than words itself.
The choices people make lead them to where they end up, which may be interpreted as the opposite of fate. However, when some people believe something is meant to be, they are determined not to stray from where they think they should end up, even if it means throwing away their principles and values in the process. Through Shakespeare's Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth’s original character and values are destroyed because of the influence from the witches' prophecies, Lady Macbeth's greed, and his own hidden ambition.
In society, people have varying opinions on fate. Many question whether life’s events are pre-determined by fate or whether people have a destiny to serve a greater purpose. Fate versus free will is an archaic topic among philosophers that is ultimately up for interpretation.The question on whether or not something else is controlling life’s events or if they are simply a coincidence faces us in some point of our lives. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays with the idea of fate and its control on the events in the play. He forces us to realize the destiny between Romeo and Juliet involves the fate between the two opposing households as well. Shakespeare blurs the line between fate and free will in his play Romeo and Juliet to show that the outstanding cause of Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy was not something decided- it was fate. It is evident by the events in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that fate was the main cause of the tragedy in the play, and that Romeo and Juliet held the destiny to finally end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.
Responsibility is key to living a life that is one's own. In the play, "Oedipus Rex," by Sophocles, The tragic protagonist, Oedipus, was afflicted with a harsh sense of guilt once he learned that he has killed his father and married his mother. The play presents this appalling outcome through a prophecy that leads the audience to assume that Oedipus, like the rest of humanity, has little control over their destinies. People of the time when the play was first written, as well as many Christians today believe that God has a plan for everyone, but they are still responsible for the choices they make. In a life of uncertainty, people must try not to be afraid of what may lie ahead and press forward. Many tough decisions must be made that will develop aspects of their characters along these paths, which were separately designed for specific people. In this sense, life can be thought of as a maze. In Oedipus's case, he was given a hint about one of the paths within his maze.
A question that has existed in the minds of many since the beginning of time is whether life is determined by fate or free will. Most people have an opinion often based on their religious beliefs. Marcello Gleiser writes on the subject, “The question of free will is essentially a question of agency, of who is in charge as we go through our lives making all sorts of choices” (Gleiser). Many have looked to Oedipus: The King as a representation of fate vs. free will. Oedipus’ childhood is one in which an impossible number of things have to fall into place for it not to be fate. King Laius’ mysterious murder leads Oedipus to do some investigating, and in doing so, he uncovers something that will change his life forever. There is no way that free
“Fate is nothing, but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence”, Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The first question is, “Do you believe in Fate?” In this novel, she isn’t sure if she believes in fate at first. She thought if you believed in astrology, you believed in fate also. According to Sophie, “Who had the right to call other people’s belief superstition?” (Gaarder 50). Superstition and fate were two different concepts; however, if you believe in fate, you don’t believe in free will. The second question is, “What forces govern the course of history?” She had a tougher time answering this question. She thought people could govern the course of history. According to Sophie, “If it was God or Fate, people had no free will” (Gaarder 50). Because of this, people can control what can happen to them only if they don’t believe in God or
If prophecy were to be real, one could expect what is bound to happen in the future. This is true; at least in “Oedipus the King” in which the protagonist, Oedipus calls forth his doom unwillingly. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person. The author of “Oedipus the King,” Sophocles, writes a tragic fate that Oedipus was born to experience. Fate is what is meant to happen and cannot be avoided or unchanged. Furthermore, events that lead to other events could be the result for one to meet their fate. In “Oedipus the King,” Sophocles expresses the nature of fate to be determined upon choices made.
Fate is non-existent as one's future is based upon their own personal decisions. It is believing
Could anyone live with knowing his or her fate? Well that is precisely what is happening to Oedipus, King Laius, and Jocasta in the story of Oedipus Rex. These three people are caught in the grasp of fate and they don’t have a choice but to go along with the story. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles the plot, setting, characters, foreshadowing, irony, and themes rely on one thing…fate.
Some people may not believe that destiny is something that truthfully exists in the world. These people doubt that there is anything that is actually meant to be, or supposed to happen, thinking that there is always a way around troubling predicaments, knowing that it is not necessary to turn out just one certain way. They trust that whatever occurs in their lives comes as a result of the decisions that they make with their own free will. Others believe that whatever happens during the course of their lives is inevitable and every event is laid out before them like a road map to life, in other words, fate. William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet has fate as an exceptionally crucial element which makes fate as important as any character in the production. The events leading up to and during the party were definitely caused by fate. The moment that Romeo and Juliet meet is the exact incident that leads to their death, however unaware these "star-crossed lovers" are to that fact. Thus, fate is undoubtedly the most responsible influence for the couple's tragedy.
...s to avoid fate, a chain of unexpected unfortunate events are unleashed and a divine master plan is fulfilled. Man must simply act according to his own convictions concerning the matter and hope that if Fate is indeed existent, there might be an even balance between her and the freedom of choice.
The concept of fate has existed since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed very strongly in fate, which can be defined as either a power beyond human control that determines events, or the outcome or end. In "Oedipus Rex," King Oedipus lives and dies by fate. Fate influences the entire plot, thereby allowing for some interesting developments that may be unpredictable to the audience.
In English literature and Greek mythologies fate and free will played colossal responsibilities in creating the characters in the legendary stories and plays. The Greek gods believed in fate and interventions, predictions of a life of an individual before and after birth which the individual has no control over their own destiny. Free will and fate comingle together, this is where a person can choose his own fate, choose his own destiny by the choices the individual will make in their lifetime. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of free will is the “freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior cause of divine intervention”. Fate and the gods who chose their destinies directed Gilgamesh, Oedipus and Achilles.
The novel starts off in a train station in England where a widow named Lilia Herriton prepares to leave on a trip to the fictional Italian town of Monteriano. Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Herriton, and her two children, Phillip and Harriet, are sending her on this trip in the hopes of separating her from her suitors. Lilia is accompanied by a family friend, Caroline Abbott, who the Herritons hope would watch over her. A month passes by and the Herritons receive a letter that informs them that Lilia is engaged to an Italian man, Signor Gino Carella. Enraged, Mrs. Herriton sends her son Phillip to break up the engagement. However, Phillip arrives too late and Lilia had already married Signor Carella. Phillip and Ms. Abbot then return to England after failing to break up the marriage.