Throughout history, the concept of fate has been a common theme among works of literature and mans thought in general. Does he have the ability to choose his path through life, or is his destiny laid out before him? This question takes on new meaning in modern society, as people try to make their own choices while conforming to the structure of society and its norms. While society, with its customs and laws, seems to limit a persons freedom, the person is still essentially free to make their own choices.
One common obstacle to how a person can feel free to make their own choices would be the expectations the person feels that he or she must fulfill. Often, these expectations come from family or friends. An example of this sort of peer pressure can be found in the novel The Princess Bride. In the story, Fezzik becomes reliant on the genius and guidance of Vizzini. The word of the Sicilian becomes unquestionable law to Fezzik; if Vizzini says it, Fezzik does it. Fezzik, in a sense, gave his freedom away to Vizzini, because Fezzik feared losing the favor and companionship of the Sicilian. He needed to please Vizzini, because “as long as Vizzini was around, you couldnt be alone.” Inigo also displays this quality, although for a somewhat different reason….
However, they didnt really lose their freedom. In society, it may seem as if a person cannot truly make their own choices because it wont align with what others want. The reality is, though, that a person always has the ability to choose their actions. The point at which this might be mistaken is the ability to choose the consequences of those actions. In the example from The Princess Bride, Fezzik and Inigo obey Vizzini not because they are forced to, but because they fear the consequences of their disobedience, which they cannot always…