The Role of Fate and Freewill in Luna’s Journey in Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Abstract

Luna’s journey in Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon provides a captivating study of how identity, growth, and destiny are shaped when free will and chance collide. This paper looks at how a child-like Luna, who is steeped in magic and mystery, interacts with a world entire of prophecies, societal expectations, and personal choices. While her fate appears to be predetermined, defined by her magical feats of moonlight absorption and the expectations of her society, her free will becomes the powerful force that defines her way. It also brings into question through Luna’s strife to regain lost memories, extract endless magical powers, and defy restrictive social systems, whether destiny is an inescapable fact or a broad guiding structure that people have the ability to mould. This study also considers supporting characters such as Xan, Antain, and the Sorrow Eater, whose deeds further illustrate the intricate interplay between external factors and individual agency. This imagination surpasses reality and examines The Girl Who Drank the Moon as a contemporary fairy tale, encouraging people to take back their stories. These narratives’ core is the complex interplay between fate and free will. In doing so, it makes people believe that even though fate plays a critical role in the direction, one’s choices and determination ultimately lead to the final destination.