The idea of fate has always taken my interest. Are we predetermined to be who we are? Do we have control over what we decide to do with our lives? We all can decide what we want to do, but did some higher power have that decision in the plan of the world? Christians hold a belief that God gave us free will to do as we please, but do we have complete control over our lives? Do things happen for a reason, or is it just coincidence? Was I fated to move here, to meet all these new people, to give up my old life, to adjust myself to the new environment? Or was it just coincidence that my family made a last minute decision to move? Moving here allowed me to clear my mind about my future. In Illinois I was not concerned about my future very much. I didn't care about what college I go to and I had not yet decided what I want to do. I was somewhat indifferent about my interests and many other things. When I moved here, I met a few key people that helped me grow up and take life more seriously. Those people showed me my strengths and helped me decide that I want to be an engineer. Was I predetermined to meet them so that they could guide me on the path through life, or was it just coincidence?
Beowulf relates to the question about fate because the epic hero's life seems to be predetermined. Beowulf owes Hrothgar a favor, so he travels to his land to try to save his people from Grendel. Beowulf happens to be the only man strong enough to defeat him. He was fated to keep his promise and help Hrothgar. The hero later has to defeat the mother of Grendel, and he finds the only sword that can destroy her. Beowulf needed that to carry on his heroic journey. Later he becomes king of the Geats, which definitely does not sound like coincidence because all of the old king's sons had to die first. It seems to be Beowulf's destiny that he is king when someone wakes the dragon guarding treasure. He proves his heroism by defeating the dragon, but not without a fatal injury. It was Beowulf's destiny to die there because his name can live on forever, and he freed the treasure for his people.
Fate can also relate to more important things, like the economy. I read an article about how Germany holds the fate of the euro zone. Germany has to help some countries within the euro zone to save them from a down-spiraling economy. There are 17 nations that use the euro as their currency and many are having economic difficulties. Germany can help, but they would have to be willing to give up a lot. Germany controls those nations fates: If the nation helps, they could start to stabilize the euro a little, or if they decide not to help, there could be major changes in the value of the euro, and they could send the other countries into deeper debt.
(creeping)...
ReplyDeleteNice job Jessie! I want to say I like how we have similar questions, kind of, but I should probably say something more appropriate. :)
I think it is really interesting how you tied the article about Germany and the European economy to your question. (Love me some German) It is very specific in that Germany holds the fate of the other nations and I do question if this really is fate or a greater power. Or even just a decision that Germany can make, but I think that by Germany making a decision, if it isn't fate, that that falls into the category of being somewhere between on the spectrum.
Yeah JDAWG!
We do have similar questions! I was actually thinking of doing something more identity-based too, but I decided not to.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking it falls into the spectrum in between also, because Germany could be considered the "higher power" with the fate of the other countries in its hands, but it seems to have the free will to choose what it may, too.