Jeremy Clark

Dr. Childs

English 1301

30 November 2012

Destiny or Coincidence

             Is our existence prearranged and are we to follow a supernatural diagram in which events and understandings are governed by coincidences therefore creating our destiny? Some believe our lives are predetermined which poses an interesting question: what would be the point of living if everything were already preset? The main antagonist in the film No Country for Old Men Anton Chigurh gives people a choice: heads or tails. You have the choice to make and must suffer the consequences of this choice. There is a strong connection between the choices we make, succumbing to life’s evil temptations, the repercussions we face as a result and the responsibilities played by the main characters in this film.

            Llewelyn Moss is the main character in this film, which is seen in the opening scene of the movie hunting antelope. During this hunt, Moss stumbles upon a drug deal gone sour and its aftermath. The choice that he makes to take the temptation of money in front of him is the beginning of his navigation down life’s bumpy road of consequences. This simple man of few words puts not only his own life in jeopardy by stealing the cash, but also endangers all of those surrounding him as well. Most would view this scenario as fate or luck, but it’s just not that simple. The morals we possess are often put aside in a life altering time, where it seems destined that the events playing out before us are symbols or a sign leading to prosperity.

            Chigurh’s unforgiving evil is shown time and time again during this epic struggle of life and death. His outlook on life is terribly dark and he shows us that the choices we make don’t just revolve around fate or luck, but actions and consequences. To comprehend where Anton’s mentality comes from, one would have to think like a sociopathic hit man as well. He has no fear of the unknown because he sees life as being predestined and himself as a tool of the trade. The coin that he uses to determine whether his victim lives or dies is not a symbol of destiny in his eyes. The truth is that Chigurh makes the choice of letting one live or to kill even when the coin flips. He is responsible for the deaths of many, justified in his own moral less mind.

            Moss makes many decisions or choices that dig him deeper and deeper in the hole, eventually causing him to lose everything. These choices seem to revolve more around fate or luck, than destiny or coincidence. He chose to tempt fate and go for it all rather than playing it safe and staying on the good, slow rate of life he was living.