Believe Quote by Lillian Hellman
“If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is at nobody's mercy, then you will probably write melodrama.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Little Foxes, 1939
Beliefs about human agency shape narrative genre; fatalism leads to tragedy, agency to melodrama.
In simple terms: Your view of control determines your story type.
Key Takeaway
Recognize your agency.
Themes
fate
human agency
storytelling
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- theatre criticism
- personal philosophy
- creative writing
- psychology
Key Concepts
tragedy
melodrama
determinism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see yourself as a victim of fate or a maker of destiny?
- How does this belief affect your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on agency can ignore structural constraints.
