Destiny Rules Motivation Useless

 People’s destiny is defined, not by what has been given to them, but how they choose to use it. Or is it? When the topic of destiny is discussed, it is hard to come to a consensus as to what it really means to make your future. People have said that every decision made changes the course of life. However, that doesn’t necessarily apply. In Albert Camus’ “The Stranger” and the novel “Oedipus Rex”, the authors compare opposite situations of destiny to show that motivation determines the choices they make, but ultimately destiny rules their motivation useless.

            In the Stranger, Mersault is a very eccentric with an unusual lifestyle. He is an outcast of sorts because of his lack of motivation and belief in the world. His ideal that people will not change highlights his overarching belief that everything is meaningless and useless. When his mother had died, he omits shrugged it off as a common occurrence. Society excluded him because of his unnatural personality and demonstration of boredom with life. Ironically, with his very uneventful life, Mersault was found guilty for a murder he committed and was sentenced to the death penalty(Camus). While he would have not been sent to the death penalty on regular terms, he was an exception, and the people were especially appalled by the fact that he didn’t show any remorse during his own mothers funeral. However, when he was being lead to his end, he finally showed some emotion. He expressed his guilt for being the way he was and even felt that he would live this life again to fix the way he went on living. But, like all things, his life came to an end that day, and though he did almost nothing influential or impactful he was still met with death. But there are people who have met their destiny head on. Oedipus Rex was the king of Thebes and was bound to take actions that would manipulate many peoples lives. But his life was more at stake than the rest. Oedipus was plagued with a fixed destiny that would lead him to find out he killed his own father. This was unknown to Oedipus and therefore when he learned of Laius’ death, he searched far and wide to locate the so-called murderer. Oedipus’ actions were a sign of desperation to find this person and end him. He even curses the person that killed Laius and unknowingly set himself into a downward spiral. When he learned about his fate, he was tortured and lived a horrible life(Sophocles). The main idea is that Oedipus was given this title of king and had a wife and kids, he held power and superiority, he had all the time in the world, but he couldn’t change what set out for him and that is the comparison between the Stranger and Oedipus Rex. Each story ends with the protagonist failing to live a proper life. And it shows in the way they chose to live. Oedipus was desperate to find the killer of Laius and ended up learning the truth. Mersault, on the other hand, simply let things happen and found his ideals to be true. Each persons motivation pushes a different aspect of life. The change in perspective also gives a better example of how both sides survive and act. And it proves that both opposite lifestyles end the same way.

            Destiny can be argued to have more than one path in short term periods of time. People would suggest that this creates complexity in life and more adventure and reason to continue striving to make purpose of the world. Unfortunately, the idea that purpose is fulfilled will never truly be attained. Purpose in life would mean creating a mark in the world. Something that is everlasting and will be seen as impactful. Humans lives are significantly minuscule compared to the universe. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that what one human life form does won’t affect the general balance of the universe. A good example of trying to make change is Pompey. Pompey was married to Caesars daughter at the time and though he had bad relations with him, they ceased fighting on the grounds that they wanted best for her. But when she died, Caesar did not hold back and Pompey fled from the country, eventually being assassinated outside of his home(Crawford). Pompey was renowned as a great person throughout Rome. But the Senate did not like him for his power. Power of politics alienated Pompey which lead to his demise. Pompey’s efforts to become a great warrior and win the hearts of the people paid off, but for no real purpose. The short-lived status he held instantly disappeared the moment he was turned on by Caesar. And this only supports the fact that life is too small to be worrying about changing destiny. The acts that we take may have short term benefits but it is all washed away when death swallows life. 

            Destiny is also said to be controlled by motivation. Motivation drives the actions that people make which supposedly shapes the future. While it may sound convincing, motivation isn’t all its cut out to be. According to an article by Richard Gordon, motivation actually “ignores primordial freedom that is central to human existence, that the human being is freedom, that every person is condemned to be free.” What it means to say is that motivation actually harms human capabilities. Being motivated is good in the sense that it sets a goal but is not good because being motivated can lead to making the wrong choices. Unknowingly making a choice based on own personal benefits could lead to drastic long term effects, or even cutting life short. The motivation limits human potential and causes them to not be able to act freely and with the most intelligence.

            However, motivation also has some good effects that can boost human traits and capabilities. Human awareness is very important almost as a “street smart” skill. Being aware of general things that surround one another is what creates a healthy, strong attitude and ability. According to an Article from the Weekend Edition Sunday, human life is defined in a way where leaving something for the future is the goal. Making the future free and full of opportunity is the ultimate goal. This makes sense from the perspective of the new generation as their goal is to be able to make a name for themselves and be successful. However, creating opportunity for others is not the job of the people before. Destiny can’t be defined for one person by someone else. It wouldn’t make sense for others to do so. This contradicts the idea that awareness shapes destiny because how can people use their awareness to break out of their limitations if their limitations have already been broken for them? This goes back to how motivation doesn’t actually create a free world and in fact just strangles the freedom out of human nature. One can not freely choose to do what they want with motivation as their driving force. Although Oedipus worked hard to find his murderer, and although Pompey worked hard to gain his status among the people and country, they all end with the same fate and their names just disappear from the world. No one talks today about how Pompey was a great warrior or that Oedipus Rex was a great king. It is not relevant. It is not remembered because the supposed significance that once was is now no longer meaningful.

            Ultimately, destiny can be altered to change small things in the world. Present things that only carry meaning for a short period of time. But long term things will erode and become useless. People are motivated to change the world, but destiny makes it hard for any of that motivation to truly take effect and make a difference.