Fate facts for kids
Fate or destiny is the idea that everything that will happen in the future is already decided. Many cultures around the world have believed that events are "predetermined," meaning they are set in advance.
Sometimes, people who are unhappy might think their problems are just 'fate' and that they can't change anything. This way of thinking is called being "fatalistic." But others believe they can control their future by being brave and working hard to make their lives better.
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Fate in Ancient Beliefs
Many ancient cultures had stories and beliefs about fate. They often imagined powerful beings who controlled people's lives.
The Greek Fates
In Greek mythology, there were three goddesses called the Fates. These goddesses decided when every person would be born, how they would live, and when and how they would die. They were seen as weaving the thread of each person's life.
Trying to Know Your Fate
Humans in many cultures tried to "read" their fate, meaning they wanted to know what would happen to them.
- Some tried to read their fate in the stars. This practice is called astrology.
- In other cultures, people might ask a person with special powers, like a shaman.
- The Ancient Greeks often went to Delphi to ask the oracle. An oracle was a person who could give advice or prophecies from the gods.
Fate in Stories and Music
The idea of fate has been a big part of literature and music for a very long time.
Fate in Literature
You can find many references to fate in stories from almost every country and time period.
- In Greek tragedy, plays like Oedipus Rex show characters trying to escape their fate, but failing.
- Shakespeare also explored fate in his plays, such as Macbeth, where prophecies influence the characters' actions.
- The theme of fate also appears in many Russian literature stories.
Fate in Music
Composers have also expressed the idea of fate in their music.
- Beethoven was thinking about fate when he wrote his famous Fifth Symphony. The opening notes are often described as "fate knocking at the door."
- Tchaikovsky also explored the idea of fate in his Sixth Symphony, which he wrote shortly before he died.
See also
See also
In Spanish: Destino para niños
