Use Ransom to explain why Malouf sees the concept of ‘chance’ as so important.
Fate played a significant role in Homer’s poem ‘The Iliad and in many Greek tragedies of that era, fate was not only the common theme but also in alliance with the power the Gods have in controlling human action. In Ransom, Malouf demonstrates how chance has a key factor in Achilles and Priams pre-determined fates.
Although priam and Achilles both know the end of their story, they know they cannot changed their fate but they by chance they can control how they deal with their fate or how to they get to the end.Priam interprets chances “another way of naming what we call fortune and the will of the Gods” as he states it “offers a kind of opportunity…to act for ourselves” which might be able to “force events into a different course”. Priam recognises this force, ‘chance’ and thys takes a chance in allowing Achilles to “break free of the obligation of always being the hero” and himself from “always being the king” as he knows he does not want to be remembered by his role in Troy.
Malouf also uses Priam’s early beginnings to show how chance could have affected Priam’s later life. Priam reflects as to how his life could have been drastically different if Hesisone had not intervened to give him a second chance. He himself was ransomed and given a second chance at life or else he would have gone down “the other path”, showing how the power of chance can alter the pathway to one’s life. Malouf
