Maggie: A Girl of the Streets Fate Versus Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

When they would thrust at, or parry, the noses of his champing horses, making them swing their heads and move their feet, disturbing a solid dreamy repose, he swore at the men as fools, for he himself could perceive that Providence had caused it clearly to be written, that he and his team had the unalienable right to stand in the proper path of the sun chariot, and if they so minded, obstruct its mission or take a wheel off. (4.23)

Jimmie may be fated to poverty and ignorance, but he also has providence looking out for him: He believes he has an inalienable right to plow his way through the crowd like the ultimate Greek god.

Quote #8

The girl, Maggie, blossomed in a mud puddle. She grew to be a most rare and wonderful production of a tenement district, a pretty girl. (5.1)

Maggie has no say in turning out pretty. We can see her "rare" prettiness as a metaphor for her not fitting in among the tenement crowd—and since she can't help being pretty, we can also say she can't help not fitting in.

Quote #9

When he said, "Ah, what deh hell," his voice was burdened with disdain for the inevitable and contempt for anything that fate might compel him to endure. (5.24)

Pete is torn between accepting his fate and resisting that he must do so—he just hates that he knows what will happen.