“Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus” – Shakespeare – Othello, Act 1 Scene 3

The concept of dowry and destiny has fascinated valet for centuries. The idea that our lives ar preordained and set in the stars has seemed to be an easy post to take on adepts sprightliness, especially when it does non take us in the r come out of the closete we desire. The Greeks were a nation obsessed with fate and created myths such as Oedipus and The Fates to illustrate the outer powers that control our lives. These ideas have of course been continued passim register and helped to shape our views on the true control that we hold oer our future.Even in todays society of an ever-expanding work place with greater opportunities, we are constantly reminded of a fate like control whether it is from a phantasmal influence or daily horoscopes. Hardy himself was obsessed with fate and it is a theme that runs throughout m whatsoever of his texts such as Far From the Madding Crowd and city manager of Casterbridge. It is this fixation with a predetermined layout of our lives that begs me to question the fact as to whether the feature Jude is in fact destined to fail, no matter how hard he works or how pious he behaves.It seems that Judes family history hides the preordained life planed out for him, with conjugal union a dark mystery never to be entered into lightly, if at all. McCourt also has to struggle not only past his let families history in the USA provided also a society that seems to shut his fate as a low manakin Catholic Irishman lacking to better himself academically, as with Jude. So how can such similar pillowcases that grimace such comparable lives end up with completely different outcomes? Is it fate at work or merely a case of stronger and weaker personalities with little or greater determination?With such similar tales to tell but ultimately different endings it is easy to suggest that fate has chosen different paths for the devil of our characters. Both McCourt and Jude seek to better themselves from the lower class upbringings t hey both share. McCourt lived not only through the p everywherety but the pompous non-Christian priests, the shiftless chattering alcoholic father, the pious defeated mother and the bullying school masters. McCourts early life in New York consisted of living in squalor with rags as clothe and sour milk as his food.After the death of his younger babe the McCourts familys problems seem to increase with his fathers alcoholism reappearing and his mothers depression reaching new heights. It was oft left to neighbours to clean and feed McCourt and his siblings as lack of bills caused Angela and Malachy, McCourts parents, the unfitness to provide the necessities for their children. The choke setting of the American Depression, which is mentioned on various occasions, sets the place setting and helps to explain why the McCourt family is so poor aside from the wasted money on alcohol by the father.Judes childhood as an orphan increase by his working class great Aunt is also one of lo w class stigmatas, although the poverty is not there as indoors McCourts memoirs. Jude appears to live a comfortable life with the necessities but never every of the riches that high or even middle class families may enjoy. Class division is a theme that runs through both novels and is a problem that both McCourt and Jude face throughout their lives. It is not until the move back to Limerick in Ireland and as Frank McCourt has aged that any class property becomes noticeable to the young McCourt.Because of the low class status Jude and McCourt hold as youths both characters find that they are unfairly denied many opportunities even though they both have the intelligence and eagerness to learn. Religion also plays a large role in both McCourt and Judes life, but neither character is sh declare the mercy and lenity that the perform is supposed to offer its followers. Jude Fawely wishes to join the church as it is seen as an accademically significant career. The rejection Jude face s from his ecclesiastical betters in Christminster lead him to in turn dismiss the church and its believes.Jude finds himself in a chaos of principles fumble in the dark acting by instinct and not later on example. Hardys novel is brimming with biblical allusions and quotations, yet it portrays a world in which displays of religious belief are largely a luxury of the wound up and leisured classes. Religion also has a large influence over the actions of Frank McCourt. It is also the Church that prevents McCourt having the opportunity to further his education as the Church runs his local Catholic grammar school, and due to his slum like air they reject him.As a child McCourt is in constant aid of the Church, its clergy, Hell and God. The Church is meant to be a service of guidance, but to McCourt its ideas deviation with his own feelings and emotions. For a long time during McCourts life he feels that he is already condemned to an eternity in hell. These feelings grew from his e xperiences, McCourt feels guilty about his own intimate feelings and actions, as vigorous as any other small offense any young child would be likely to commit.McCourts image of the Church is only increased when he returns to America and is propositioned by a priest on his first night. McCourt is left with the feeling that God torments you. Family history is a large problem that haunts both characters in these novels. Jude is placed under the persuasion that there is a curse on his family that prevents any successful marriage. His own parents ended up dead, which is seen due to their marriage, and his great Aunt has stayed away from marriage all her life, The Fawleys were not made for wedlock it never seemed to sit well upon us.It is true that Judes first marriage to Arabella Donn is a loser, however it is not the statute of marriage that seems to be the problem for Jude as even challenge Bridesheads avoidance of marriage can not prevent the ultimate failure of there partnership. It can also be said that the lower class upbringing Jude had been given by his Aunt led to the demise of any hopes Jude may have held to gaining a further education and career in spite of appearance the church.McCourt also holds some demons from his families past that he carries with him throughout his childhood and that go on during his adult life as well. The curse of the Irish is one that follows McCourt to America with him. His own Fathers drinking problem that cast the McCourt family into poverty, is continued by a blue Frank McCourt who believes he his failing in his dreams. McCourt always feels like an noncitizen in the same way that Jude always feels an inferior in the city of Christminster to the intellects that surround him.