In the novel, Strider is asked if he wanted to live in Rivendell. He replied that he would like to stay in comfort and safety in Rivendell, but that it is not his destiny. The question that is now raised is: what part does destiny play in the lives of the characters? With that being said, destiny is defined as, the fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; a resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual, by the Webster’s Dictionary.
I can see how people may think that destiny plays a role in the lives of the characters, and maybe it does a little, but I have disagree some too. Sure Bilbo could have been “destine” to find the ring, which then was “destine” to make it to Frodo, who was “meant” to realize he had to leave the shire to protect everyone. And sure Sam could have been “destine” to be caught listening to Frodo and Gandalf to be then picked to go on the trip, but there is also a different side to it. This novel is all made up, so, so is the destiny of each character along the way. Everything was meant to happen for a reason like that, because that is how J.J.R. Tolkien set it up. Destiny does play a role in the lives of the characters, but their destiny was decided in a different way.
The question was also asked: If literature is an imitation of life, or a mirror image, if you will, then what does that mean about real life? I believe this means that there is such thing as destiny in real life; it just depends on the situation at hand.
