Most everyone we meet in The Assistant feels as though fate, not their choices, guide their lives. The novel itself doesn't delve into the philosophical question or argue one side over the other. It's more about the feelings of hopelessness and inevitability the people in the story feel and how these feelings motivate their daily decisions and long-term plans. How do you break free of a painful lot when you believe you're meant for a life of pain? How do you take responsibility for disappointing others when the course of life seems to lead nowhere but to disappointment? The novel tackles these questions in terms of its characters rather than as separate ideas.
Questions About Fate and Free Will
- Why do both Frank and Morris describe their fates as being moved by a wind?
- How do the Bobers' Judaism and Frank's conscience inform and direct the choices they make?
- Do you think Morris and Ida could be better salespeople? What prevents them from making the attempt?
- Does bad luck mean the same thing to both Frank and Morris?
Chew on This
Frank's guilt over his sins and crimes suggests that he believes he has free will.
Frank's guilt over his sins and crimes suggests an unconscious motivation outside his control.