The Return of the Native Fate and Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

To Eustacia the situation seemed such a mockery of her hopes that death appeared the only door of relief if the satire of Heaven should go much further. (4.3.17)

"Heaven" or fate is kind of a punk here. Eustacia seems to think the entire universe is "mocking" her and she responds in typical melodramatic fashion, hoping for "death." She really should have just considered getting a better sense of humor and reassessing her priorities, but then this book wouldn't be all that dramatic.

Quote #8

"Sometimes more bitterness is sown in five minutes than can be got rid of in a whole life; and that may be the case here." She paused a few moments, and added, "if you had never returned to your native place, Clym, what a blessing it would have been for you!... It has altered the destinies of –"

"Thee people."

"Five," Eustacia thought; but she kept that in. (4.4.57-9)

Major thematic passage alert! The idea that Clym, the "returning native," has completely "altered the destinies" of a group of people is pretty much the central point of the plot. And it's very significant that Eustacia thinks of two extra people here – we're guessing she means Damon and Diggory, who are also affected by Clym's return. While Clym made the decision to come back and then stick around while only thinking himself, his decision had a huge ripple effect on other people.

Quote #9

"The fates have not been kind to you, Eustacia Yeobright."

"I have nothing to thank them for." (4.6.18-9)

The idea that fate has it in for Eustacia runs throughout the book, though it's mainly brought up by Eustacia herself. In this case, Damon points it out to her, and further solidifies the similarities between these two characters.