Fate and Free Will Quotes in Blood Red Road

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

Every six years, on midsummer's eve, they sacrifice a boy. They kill him. An that boy cain't jest be any boy. He's gotta be eighteen year old an born at midwinter. (6.134)

It seems like Pa isn't the only person who's obsessed with the concept of fate, after all. Every year, the King enacts a bizarre sacrificial ritual which he claims rejuvenates him, thereby rejuvenating his subjects. It's all a bunch of chaaled out nonsense, of course, but we wonder if these two prophecies are in any way connected...

Quote #8

It'll happen if it's meant to happen, he says. It's all written in the stars. It's all fate. (6.730)

Oh, boy. Who would have guessed that Saba's new boyfriend would be obsessed with fate, too? Can't a girl get a break? Or at least a fortuneteller who's more direct about his predictions?

Quote #9

Then I ended up in Hopetown [...] an suddenly there's a chance an do somethin decent in my life [...] It's fate, like I said. (8.819)

Once again, Jack brings up fate when he talks to Saba. That can't be coincidental, right? We're not going to say that their relationship was "written in the stars" or anything, but there's definitely something deeper going on.