Chosen Fate

In both the literary works, "The Road Not Taken" and "Slumdog Millionaire" there lies a message that conveys that one chooses their own path or "destiny" in life. Robert Frost outlines in his poem that "two roads [are] diverged in a yellow wood[.]" He explains his indecision as he knows he "[can] not travel both" but looks "down one as far as [he] could to where it [bends] in the undergrowth[.]" This is parallelled in the novel when Ram makes the decision to leave Mumbai after believing he just killed Gudiya's father, Shantarum. Ram visualizes the consequences of staying in the city and envisions being arrested, tortured, and eventually put to death by the crime that he commits. Mr. Frost then describes in his poem that he takes the path that appears to be less travelled upon and endeavors on a journey with no regrets. In the book, Ram journeys on a very unconventional path as well to finally conclude with a happy ending. He struggles through many obstacles that involves abuse, violence, internal conflict and deception yet continues on his path of life without looking back. The author of the poem seems to agree with Ram's choices when stating in his work that he "[doubts] if [he] should ever [go] back" on the path he's chosen. He continues to go on by explaining that "[he] took the [path] less traveled by, [and] that has made all the difference." In the novel, Ram explains to Gudiya at the end that he chooses his own fate and that he possesses no regrets in life because it has ultimately lead him to a succesful one. In both these works, the author's depict that choices will continually present themselves but deciding upon those choices are what indefinitely determines your "fate" or "destiny".