Wuthering Heights

With this particular story I am torn between the two options; are the characters free to do what they want or are they governed by something bigger. I am stuck between these two options because of the evidence on both sides. First let us discuss the freedom of the characters to chose.  In the story each character can chose how and what they react to. For example it was Isabella's choice to love Heathcliff, as it was with Catherine. Heathcliff chose to never move on and becomes consumed by the misguided thought of revenge. Throughout the book the characters exercise free will making it appear that the answer to my big question is obvious. However it is the elements the characters can not control that one could argue shows fate was involved. For example, characters throughout the story would be stopped by the weather, allowing for the plot to continue. Furthermore sickness is constantly changing how the story plays out. Imagine if Lockwood never became sick and Nelly never told us her story, or if Catherine never stayed at Thrushcross Grange. The story would have been completely different. It is due to the duel nature of this story that I am at a loss for an answer. So I leave it to you to decide, do you think the characters where mere playthings for an already known story or that the story is purely do to their own actions and thoughts?     

Relating to Oedipus

 Oedipus is a great book to discuss whether or not fate is real. Was Oedipus destined to kill his father, take over the kingdom, and sleep with his mom? or was it due to bizarre and unfortunate events? I am of the believer that in the story of Oedipus he did not have a predetermined life, but in actuality exercised free will. In my mind the prophet is to blame, if he said nothing then Oedipus would have lived with his parents and hopefully would have not done those terrible things, at worst he might have killed his father. 
"TEIRESIAS
Well, it will come what will, though I be mute.
OEDIPUS
Since come it must, thy duty is to tell me."
 This quote highlights the fact that what will come is destined to come. So all in all I think the prophet created a self fulfilling prophesy in the sense that without him Oedipus would have known his family and that marrying your mom is kind of messed up.  

Why I chose it

Are we governed by fate, free will, a greater power or somewhere in between?

. How I arrived at the question

I arrived at this question simply because its a question that we all think about. Are we as humans free to act on are own or is their a predetermined plan for us. Before I answer this I have to get out my personal bias, so you know to take the other entries with a grain of salt. I absolutely (although you shouldn't have absolutes) 100%, believe in free will, in other words their is nothing guiding or outlining our paths. The decisions one makes is theirs and they should take responsibility for their actions and the awards, the punishments, the sadness, the joy, and all the other emotions one can feel, because they are theirs and theirs alone. However I think its human nature to believe in things as fate or that their is a greater power guiding them. Wanting a set path is not only comforting in the sense you have a purpose (that we assume is going to be good), but also having this predetermined action takes away from the responsibility of the action whether good or bad. Overall I think its a interesting idea of whether your action are not really yours but rather part of a big plan. I would imagine that makes us a bystander and we just watch what happens. However in this blog we will be talking about literature where anything can happen.