Ransom and Invictus - Fate and Free-will
Both texts explore the ideas of fate and free-will and how beliefs in these can influence ones
decision and actions to shape their future. David Malouf’s novel “ransom” (2009) is set during the
siege of Troy. The Trojans strongly believed that their destiny was predetermined by the divine
beings and ones actions cannot change their destiny. However Malouf challenges the believe of fate
only controlled by the Gods through Priam who took the opportunity of “chance” to challenge “the
way [things] have turned out. In a world that is also subject to chance.” The gods have no role in
Clint Eastwood’s film “Invictus” (2009), allowing human actions to influence their own destiny.
Mandela is inspired by the poem ‘Invictus’ and Priam is motivated “to ransom himself” which allows
them to change their fate. Both texts explore how forgiveness “can liberate the soul” and bring both
spiritual and psychological peace in order to move from the past and alter a person’s destiny.
Through the depiction of different opening and ending scenes, both texts explore how destiny is
changed.
Through the depiction of “break[ing] the knot” and “look[ing] to the future,” both author are able to
emphasise the power of inspiration as a means of changing fate. Eastwood portrays his point of view
on the capacity of the human soul and the capabilities to overcome hardships in times of adversity
arguing that human actions possesses the ability to alter the course of events. The notion of power
in human decisions and actions is restated in the poem ‘Invictus’ which inspires Mandela, the
symbolic figure of change and free-will in the film. The poem focuses solely on the possibility of men
to turn the situation around if there is the will to do and that humans are “the master of their fate” if
willing to change their own destiny as they wishes. The following line “I am the captain of my soul”
voiceover and a silhouette of Mandela as a prisoner with unyielding eyes reinforces the imagery of
determination, ambition and precise control of a captain steering his ship – a metaphor for an
individual controlling his life. The poem ‘Invictus’ motivated Mandela “to stand up when all [he]
wanted was to lie down.” Eastwood highlights how individual’s inspiration can alter their own
destiny. Pienaar also employs inspiration to motivate his team in the game of rugby. The extreme
close-up of Pienaar’s face and the panning of his team’s face when saying “listen to you country, this
is it. This is our destiny” advocates the power of inspiration on oneself and on others. Similar to
Mandela and Pienaar, Priam is also motivated to “take the opportunity to act for ourselves” and
“force events into a different course” in order to “be ransomed a second time- to ransom himself, as
well as [his] son.” Priam decides to go to Achilles as “being simply a man” stripped off all his “kingly
role.” Priam risks his “kingship” and his safety during the journey and when in Achilles hut. Malouf
advocates how inspiration can allow individuals to enter a “new world” in order to change their fate
and leave behind an “image that other men will keep of him when he is gone.” Therefore, Mandela,
Pienaar and Priam are motivated to alter their destiny by the poem ‘Invictus’ and to “ransom
himself.”
Both ‘Ransom’ and ‘Invictus’ explores how forgiveness “liberates the soul” ” and bring both spiritual
and psychological peace in order to move from the past and alter a person’s destiny. Mandela was
put in prison for “30 years” and was treated harshly however “he came out willing to forgive those
who put him there.” Eastwood accentuates that it is necessary to forgive and let go of the “past” in
order to “build our nation” and “look to the future.” The mid-shot of Jason’s angry face questioning
Mandela “why those guys in the office” and “not long ago they tried to kill us and often succeeded.”
Mandela calmly asks Jason to “try” and “forgive” as it “removes fear” and “liberates the soul. That is
why it is such a powerful weapon.” The long shot of Mandela pleading with Jason to “try” advocates
that “selfish thinking does not serve the nation” and “he must break this cycle, or it will destroy us.”
Mandela forgets the past and aims to unite the country. Eastwood presents Mandela as a symbolic
figure of “moving on from the past” in order to change the destiny of South Africa. Similar to
Mandela forgiving the people who put him in prison and who separated him from his family, Somax
also forgives Beauty for the death of his son. Beauty is a symbol of forgiveness. Somax lost his son
because Beauty lost control resulting in Somax’s son drowning in the water. However instead of
“punching Beauty” he “ended up taking her in [his] arms and sobbing fit to break my heart.” Somax
understands that it was not Beauty’s fault and that retribution has no benefits as it “wouldn’t have
brought him back.” Malouf suggests that forgiveness is very powerful as it can bring spiritual peace.
This is also depicted in Achilles who was trapped in his psychological prison due to his guilt of
Patroclus death. Achilles drags Hector’s body for nine days. Due to Achilles acting on impulse and
takes revenge by killing Hector and “dragging [his] body” Achilles is trapped in his psychological and
spiritual prison. However Achilles was unable to regain his psychological state after he forgave
Hector and himself. This highlights that forgiveness can bring both psychological and spiritual peace.
Thus, both texts explore how forgiveness “liberate the soul” and bring both spiritual and
psychological peace in order to let go of the past and “look to the future” to alter their destiny.
Both texts explore how destiny is changed through the use of different opening and ending scenes.
The cinematography of the opening scene of ‘Invictus’ accentuates the divide between the blacks
and the whites. Eastwood highlights the inequities and emphasises the start of the difficulty
Mandela would need to face in order to transform the nation from it’s previous beliefs and identity
The contrast between the black school characterised by parched ground and children in haphazard
clothes and the white school with metal fence and manicured grounds separated by a road
introduces the disparity between the whites and blacks. This road barrier suggests that Mandela
needs to take the middle road between the blacks and whites without being biased in order to unite
the country and change the destiny of South Africa. The extreme close-up of Mandela’s cheerful face
and the voice over of “I am the captain of my soul” and both races celebrating the win of Springbok
together at the end of the film demonstrates that Mandela has achieved his goal in uniting the
country. In contrast to this, ‘Ransom’ begins and ends in a “world of pain, loss and bursts of
violence.” At the beginning of ‘Ransom’, Achilles is at the beach, the home of his mother suggests
that Achilles is alone and his split identity between his father and mother self. His “dual identity” of
being a “fluid” and an “element of earth.” Malouf depicts Achilles as a lonely person at the start of
the novel to elicit feelings of sympathy before his deeds are revealed. At the end of ‘Ransom’,
Neoptolemus “avenges his father” by killing Priam. This murder suggests that despite Priam and
Achilles having a moment of “fellow feeling” and “tenderness” there would always be a cycle of
revenge. ‘Invictus’ began with South Africa on the “verge of civil war” however the film ending
insinuates the bright and optimistic future of South Africa. ‘Ransom’ began and ended with the war
of the Greeks and the Trojans highlighting the dark and gloomy future of the Greeks and the Trojans.
‘Invictus’ by Clint Eastwood suggests that the belief in one’s actions and decision can shape their
future. However in ‘Ransom’ by David Malouf, gods play an important role in their fate and that their
destiny is predetermined by the gods. Both texts explore the role of individual’s play in their own
destiny. Mandela is inspired by the poem ‘Invictus’ and Priam is motivated to “ransom himself”
which allows them to change their fate. Both texts explores the importance of forgiveness and how
it can “liberate the soul” which inclines them to “move from the past” and alter their destiny.
Through the depiction of different opening and ending scenes, both texts explore how destiny is
changed.