Is there a rule against saying that Harry Potter changed my mind? I'll post the three paragraphs that did it. No worries though, it's not anything that'll spoil the book for you. Just babbling about that there prophecy. Although if you haven't read the fifth book, I guess it does spoil it. Oh well.
Quote:
"Of course you would!" cried Dumbledore. "You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal... In other words, you are free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you... which makes it certain, really, that--"
"That one of us is going to end up killing the other." said Harry. "Yes."
But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to fight a battle ot the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew-- and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents-- that there was all the difference in the world.
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So as long as people believe in fate, they will continue to follow what their fate seems to be, dragging those who don't want anything to do with right along side. But you have the choice to turn tail and run, or to continue on.
Frodo did not want the Ring, even though Gandalf said he was "meant" to have it. He could have tossed it somewhere, but because of so many other people after it, his life would have ended up pretty miserably anyhow. That and his love for the Shire caused him to greet his fate with open arms (or at least moderately spread fingers) instead of waiting for it to track him down against his will.
I also got switched by Peter David's The Woad to Wuin. I can't give a direct quote (alas, libraries like their books returned), but Sharee makes it clear to Apropos that even if you can't escape your fate, every choice you make will affect it. Just because it's been a guarantee since you were born that you're going to fight the most powerful jerk to ever exist (for example) doesn't mean that your preparation and choices make it any less. You could go into the battle fully prepared and win, or you could go to battle kicking and screaming with four fingers missing off your left hand and no hair because it got burned off by a rampaging dragon you decided to steal from. Even though the big things might be set out, it's the little things that determine their outcome.
So yeah... based on everything except Lord of the Rings, I've just come to a new conclusion about them. How intriguing. Anyhow... 'f'it were possible, I'd switch my die-hard no to a die-hard maybe.
