Choice

I wanted to expand upon something I inadvertently said during my presentation.  Let's hope I can remember it correctly because it was quite insightful, and quite by accident:

"You gain some choice about your destiny when you accept the fact that you have no choice."

Or something along those lines.  What I was getting at was that it seems the characters who accept their fate, seem to have some semblance of control over it.  When Fadil Sanaan (Arabian Nights and Days) decided to follow his conscience and turn himself in, he accepted his fate, and therefore was able to make the choice.   Whereas Alphonse (Manuscript) had absolutely no idea what his fate was, or what the intentions of those around him were, he had absolutely no control over the situation.  He simply followed the path laid out in front of him.

My most poignant example comes from Little, Big when Daily Alice finally realizes her destiny, accepts it, and then asks for more time with her family, which is granted to her:

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“As she went up the Hill, she felt huge duties calling to her…The feeling was intense, as though she were being drawn in or swept away; she sat motionless in its grip, marveling and a little frightened, expecting it to pass in a moment… But it didn’t pass…She felt that she was dissolving helplessly into what she beheld, and at the same time had grown imperious enough to command it in every part…awed, yet for some reason not surprised as she came to know what was being asked of her, what she was summoned to… ‘No,’ she said in reply; ‘no’ she said, softly… ‘Turn away,’ she said, and the day did… ‘Not yet, not yet,’ she said, as the day turned away; ‘not yet, there’s too much to do still; please, not yet.’” (p. 285-286)

 It is my belief that Alice was able to push back the timeline of her purpose in life because she understand the ending was inevitable.  She understand and accepted her duties and understood she really had no choice in the matter.  By understanding this, she took some power away from destiny and was allowed a voice in the matter.

This mindset in real life would dictate that we have to accept we have no control over our lives in order to realize even the semblance of choice.  So which is better?  Accepting no control to have some control, or pretending you have full control when you have zero control?  Is ignorance bliss?