Destiny and Fate

A detailed Summary of Destiny and Fate

Destiny or fate is a very curious thing. In this book we can see the enormous effects that fate can have on a person or a group. All throughout Sundiata an Epic of Old Mali the pangs of fate ring true. When writing a book like this or even by reading it one will always know the fate or outcome of the hero. It is interesting that the reader keeps reading even though the outcome is evident. This perhaps illustrates how Maghan Kon Fatta, Sogolon, Sundiata, and his followers perhaps felt. The reader knows what's going to happen, but he reads on. These people knew what was going to happen so they kept on with their plight. Sometimes they strayed or questioned the destiny that had been laid out before them but they carried on nonetheless. The griots tell the story of Sundiata, the Lion King. The young cripple grows up to be the most talked about and loved king in all of Mali's history. D.T. Niane writes this story that has been passed onto him for generations. The theme of destiny and fate plays a large role in the course of events in this old epic from Africa. His role as king, exile and victorious return to the homeland are all controlled by fate's effects in his life.

's birth a hunter-traveler tells of a great king that will unite all of Mali. The traveler prophesies that the powerful heir to the throne would be born from a foreign, ugly woman . The tales of greatness impressed the king of Mali enough that he trusted what the hunter had said to him. After Sundiata's birth, huge obstacles were not enough to stop his continuos path to the throne. After he was born there seemed to be doubts of his greatness. Being crippled in a society where physical skills were highly valued is perhaps the greatest curse possible. But learning to walk, in defiance to others in the palace, was only a small achievement compared to the milestones that he would pass in his lifetime. This attitude of being able to overcome all is helped by a spirit of blessing that helped Sundiata, perhaps because of his pre-ordained status in life. The obscure traveler who told magnificent stories is possible the most important figure in this part of the tale, in truth, creating the life of a prince that Sundiata would live. The book is heavily imbued with fate as we can see in this quote, "Each man finds his way already marked out for him and he can change nothing of it" . It is obvious that the hand of fate played a very large role with all the characters in the book. If we look at Sassouma Berete who is the first wife of the king we can see that even she has accepted Sundiata's destiny when she tries to have him killed. "I want to kill Sundiata...His destiny runs counter to my sons"

The course to Sundiata's travels is ultimately set by the goal of kingship of Mali

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1072
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History