Henry VIII Fate and Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #4

SECOND GENTLEMAN
I think you have hit the mark. But is 't not cruel
That she should feel the smart of this? The Cardinal
Will have his will, and she must fall. (2.1.192-194)

The gents think that Katherine's fate will be up to Wolsey and Wolsey alone. They aren't interested in the fate part, really: they go out of their way to tell us that it's Wolsey himself who is bad news for Katherine.

Quote #5

NORFOLK
This is the Cardinal's doing. The king-cardinal,
That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune,
Turns what he list. The King will know him one day. (2.2.23-25)

Here, Norfolk characterizes Wolsey as the son of "fortune" because of everything he successfully orchestrates. It's a very convoluted way of saying that Wolsey is the one behind everything that's happening. Okay, maybe, but that just leaves us with one question: why does Norfolk use the word "fortune" when describing Wolsey, then? If everything is decided by free will, why should we care about fortune (fate) at all?

Quote #6

OLD LADY
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you—O, fate!—
A very fresh fish here—fie, fie, fie upon
This compelled fortune!—have your mouth filled up
Before you open it. (2.3.100-106)

The Old Lady tells Anne flat out that she's lucky, and the Old Lady is not. Anne's just received a fancy new title and a wad of moolah from the king, so the Old Lady thinks that fate favors Anne—nothing else would make sense.