A Study of Determinism in Literature

This study explores the philosophy of determinism as reflected in literature. Both classical and contemporary authors and poets often express a belief in fate and the absence of free will. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, a work of magical realism often categorized as absurdist, presents a narrative shaped by an inescapable and irrational transformation, reflecting a deterministic worldview. Similarly, in Missing Soluch, the renowned Iranian author Mahmoud Dowlatabadi portrays the painful life of a poor woman whose circumstances suggest she has no control over her destiny. The ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus further emphasizes this theme: Oedipus is doomed by prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother, illustrating the idea of an unalterable fate beyond personal agency. Iranian poets such as Hafez and Omar Khayyam also express themes of determinism in their poetry, both implicitly and explicitly questioning the role of human will. This study examines the concepts of determinism, free will, and destiny as represented in these works, drawing on Martin Luther’s theological perspective on divine omnipotence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Determinism ، Free Will ، Fate- Destiny ، Divine Omnipotence ، Literature