The Graveyard Book Fate and Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

“Mister Frost.” Scarlett wondered how to say it, then just said it. “About thirteen years ago, three people were murdered in your house. The Dorian Family.” (7.267)

Jack Frost exercised his free will in hanging out by the graveyard in disguise to try to get at Bod. He’s definitely heard things that make him suspect that Bod’s in there. But does he also expect Scarlett? We don’t know if Jack has that power or not. If Jack didn’t know Scarlett would lead him to Bod, did he just give her a ride home to be nice? Maybe Jack didn’t know Scarlett, and Scarlett didn’t go to the graveyard on purpose, but just randomly ends up there when she gets on the wrong bus. Is this all fate, forcing our hero to go up against his enemy at just the right time?

Quote #8

“No. We killed you for protection. Long time ago, one of our people – that was back in Egypt, in pyramid days – he foresaw that one, there would be a child born would walk he borderland of the living and the dead. That if this child grew to adulthood it would mean the end of our order and all that we stand for. (7.605)

There it is, folks, the prophecy we’ve been talking about. Without this passage, we wouldn’t have much to hang our arguments that Bod is meant to fight the Jacks and win.