Spinning Around with Fate: The Timeless Wheel of Fortune
Definition:
The phrase “Wheel of Fortune” evokes the image of the ever-rotating wheel that controls the fate of individuals or events. Often personified, this wheel is under the dominion of Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance and luck.
Origin and Context:
This phrasing has ancient roots, dating back to mythologies and writings of the Babylonians and Chinese. Chaucer referenced this capricioous wheel in ‘The Knight’s Tale,’ writing, “Thus can fortune hir wheel govern and gye, and out of joye bringe men to sorwe” — eloquently noting its role in human sorrows and joys.
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Turn of the Wheel: Reflecting changes in fortune.
- Lady Luck: Personification of luck and fortune.
- Fortuna’s Folly: Playful term for unexpected bad luck.
- Change of Fate: Sudden reversal of circumstances.
- Ups and Downs: The variability of life, akin to the wheel.
Synonyms:
- Change of Fortunes
- Fate’s Caprices
- Lady Luck’s Decree
Antonyms:
- Predictability
- Constancy
- Stability
Proverbs and Quotes:
- “Fortune favors the bold.” — Virgil
- “May the odds be ever in your favor.” — Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)
- “Life is like a wheel. Sooner or later, it always comes around to where you started again.” — Stephen King
Literature & References:
- “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer - Chaucer’s writing remains a cornerstone where the ever-spinning wheel of fortune is a thematic element.
- “The Wheel of Time” Series by Robert Jordan - This series metaphorically embraces the ever-turning wheel.
- “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare - Often quotes “Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, showed like a rebel’s whore.”
Songs & Movies:
- “Wheel of Fortune” by Kay Starr - A classic tune emphasizing the turnings of Lady Luck.
- “Change Partners” by Irving Berlin - A song expressing the dance with fortune’s shifts.
- The iconic TV Game Show: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ - Premiered in 1981, bringing the idea of spinning fate to living rooms.
Quiz Time!
Let’s test your knowledge about idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and sayings!
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” — William Jennings Bryan
Until next spin of the wheel, be bold, stay curious, and may fortune smile upon you!
— Clara P. Chance