OPPapers.com

Is Fate Predtermined?

Is Fate Predetermined?
"Everything in the fairy tales appears to happen entirely by chance-and this has the strange effect of making it appear that everything happens by fluke, that everything is fated" (Byatt, A.S. The Annotated Brothers Grimm. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2004). Throughout this paper I will be making a comparative analysis to Byatt's theory using the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, as well as giving a brief overview of some of the key symbols and details incorporated into the story. Is Byatt's hypothesis accurate? If so, it would imply that Cinderella's fate was predetermined, but if not, would it just be sheer coincidence? This leads me to wonder…in fairy tales, does the underdog always come out on top? Another side I will explore is that of karma. Does karma always come around to punish those who unjustly punish others? By examining different key elements in the tale, I will determine whether karma is an inevitable consequence to the battle between the good and the evil.

Cinderella struck me as the kind of woman who would use her misfortunes as fuel to better herself and her life. Cinderella appreciated the small things in life. An example of such would be when Cinderella's father was going to the fair and asked his children what they wished for him to bring back, the two step-daughters requested beautiful dresses and pearls, while Cinderella replied "Father, break off the first branch that brushes against your hat on your way home and bring it to me" (P. 116). Cinderella then took the hazel branch he brought her and planted it on the grave of her mother. Her freshly fallen tears watered the branch and it grew into a beautiful tree. She was loving, caring and valued things for their sentimental value, not for financial worth. But if there were ever two complete opposites, it would be Cinderella and her step-mother and step-sisters. Her new step-family only saw value in materialistic possessions and in objects with...