Star Wars: The Force Awakens Fate vs. Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.

Quote #1

FINN: This is a rescue, I'm helping you escape. Can you fly a TIE fighter?

POE: You with the Resistance?

FINN: What? That's crazy. No, no, no! I'm breaking you out. Can you fly a TIE fighter?

POE: I can fly anything. Why, why are you helping me?

FINN: Because it's the right thing to do.

Here's an example of free will feeding into fate. Finn makes a conscious decision to flee the First Order…which sends him to Poe…which leads him to Rey…which leads them all to whatever destiny the Force has in mind.

Quote #2

UNKAR PLUTT: What about the droid?

REY: What about him?

UNKAR PLUTT: I'll pay for him. Sixty portions.

REY: Actually...the droid's not for sale.

Obviously, turning BB-8 over to Unkar Plutt would be a bad thing, but a girl's gotta eat, and refusing food over principle when you're hungry all the time is a big deal. Rey needs to choose…and the good news is, she doesn't hesitate.

Quote #3

FINN: Hey. Rey. You're a pilot—you can fly anywhere! Why go back? You got a family? You got a boyfriend?

This is important because it means Rey is on Jakku by choice; she thinks someone is coming back for her. She decides to cling to the hope that her family will return because it's all she's had for so long that letting go is hard. Even so, it's a choice—an easy choice rather than the right choice, but a choice nonetheless.