"When asked if he wanted to live in Rivendell, Strider replies honestly; he would like to stay in comfort and safety in Rivendell is a given but it is not his destiny. This raises a question: what part does destiny play in the lives of the characters? And, if literature is an imitation of life, or a mirror image, if you will, then what does that mean about real life? Thoughts?"In the lives of the characters, destiny plays a huge role. They all believe that they have a destiny and that that rules them. Frodo believed that his destiny was not to sit idle in the Shire, as Strider felt that his destiny was not to stay in Rivendell. They believe that their destinies control what they are going to do, and they live based on the feelings that they get. Frodo took his feelings that he should not stay in the Shire to lead him on his journey to be the ringbearer on the journey of the Ring from the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom and all of the troubles in between. Strider used his destiny as a reason to wander and find peace of mind as well as adventure in his travels with Frodo.
I think that destiny can play a huge part in real life, if one thinks about it and believes in it. If I did not believe in destiny, then I would think that I am choosing everything that happens in my life and that everywhere I go and everything I do is entirely up to choice. However, I believe in destiny, and I think that I was at least partially destined to do the things that I do. I think that if I was given skills in math and science, I should use those skills in my future, instead of focusing on art and music, which I can do but not nearly as good as I can do math and science. Therefore, I think that destiny plays a large part in my life. If I didn't believe in it, I don't think that destiny would play a large part in my life, because I wouldn't think it was destiny.
Destiny, in all, to me is a state of mind. If you believe in it, it works for you. If you don't believe in it, it means nothing to you and it does nothing for you.
