“Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare Everybody either believes in fate or free will. Meaning that their future is up to their fate and they cannot change it or they believe in free will meaning that they choose the outcome to their future and can do things to change or prevent things from happening. In Julius Caesar Shakespeare proves the theme fate versus free will when he says “We at the height are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.” Shakespeare is implying that if the men don’t take “the current” now, when the time is right, that they will lose their opportunities. This quote expressed the theme fate versus free will because Shakespeare is making the reader think about if characters might be able to prevent tragedy’s if they could only understand and take action at the problems they are faced with. Shakespeare also makes you think about whether you can achieve success through ambition, courage and commitment or if someone is simply intended to success or failure with no ability to affect their destiny. Also Shakespeare uses symbolism to emphasize his theme when he uses “tide” to symbolize the problems in people’s lives. Overall, Shakespeare is simply trying to make you think about whether fate or free will is right. I believe in free will not fate. I believe I cannot just go through life simply based on fate. I have to take actions myself or change something in my life if I do not like it. If I have a problem I have to get through it, I cannot just let it go and have fate determine if I will solve it or let it be. Also I feel if I want to succeed at something I have to work