In six pages free will and fate representations in literature are considered in an examination and comparative analysis of Dreaming with Einstein and The Alchemist. Three sources are cited in the bibliography.
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karma, believe that no matter what a person does, he or she is trapped by fate. The phrase "if a bullets got your name on it, you cant escape it,
no matter what" follows this line of thinking. Others, however, support the idea of "free will," which means that, although we may be directed along a particular path, we still
have the decision or ability to break away from that particular path, and in doing so, we can change our fate or our destiny.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "fate" comes from the Latin fatum, which means "to tell" or "to predict" (Fate). Loosely defined, the concept of faith discusses forces
at work - which could be an unseen power - that controls human destiny (Fate). Fate is not exactly a new concept - the ancient Greeks called the concept "Moira,"
which, at times, had its power over gods and men alike while, at other times, the gods actually had the power to change the course of fate (Fate).
According to St. Thomas, fate occurred when people attempted to find a cause for events that had no rational or obvious reason, but rather,
were viewed as chance (Fate). Other religions view fate in pretty much the same way; in the Koran, for example, fate is based on Gods absolute decree, and predestination for
both good and evil (Fate). In other words, there is no way out, and the path is the path. "The prophet (Mohammed) encouraged his followers to fight without fear, and
even with desperation, by assuring them that no timidity or caution could save their lives in battle or avert their inevitable destiny" (Fate). In Buddhism, the concept of "free will,"