Fate is probably one of the trickiest themes for any writer to tackle, since it usually involves some sort of understanding of an "Immanent Will." But in "The Convergence of the Twain," the speaker looks as if he's leaning towards the fate governs everything route, even though he mentions "paths coincident." We don't know anything for sure though when it comes to destiny and the speaker is careful to keep that mystery alive in the poem. When we see the "Spinner of the Years," we may even imagine some sort of divine providence that spins things along for us. No matter how we cut it though, there's no doubting the tragic aspects of fate, especially when it involves big ships and the solitude of the sea.
Questions About Fate
- Is there any difference between fate and the "Immanent Will" the speaker refers to? Why do you think so?
- What's so eerie about the fact that both the Titanic and Iceberg were "growing" together at the same time?
- Why does the speaker include the idea of an "Immanent Will" preparing a "sinister mate" for the titanic? Does fate always have a sinister side? Why or why not?
- Are the creative and destructive forces of fate always "alien" to one another like they are in the poem? Can you think of a situation in which they're not?
Chew on This
In Hardy's poem, fate is made up of two halves that are either creative or destructive and usually alien to one another—though the two may "converge" in unprecedented ways. When that happens, hang on to your corduroys.
The "Immanent Will" in Hardy's poem is both within man and within all things but, just like everything else about fate, it's difficult to anticipate where that force will lead us. (And Yoda's not returning our phone calls.)