Fata, fortuna, gods, and free will in Seneca’s tragedies

This article investigates Seneca’s thoughts about fate (fata), fortune (fortuna), gods, and free will based on the analysis of his tragedies. In all his plays and philosophical works, this Roman author writes about the power of fata, fortuna and the gods, about the predestination of the course of events, and about the necessity to evince humility and honor the gods. However, in the tragedies, written in the 40s – 50s, the personages blame fata, fortuna, and the gods, who can feel emotions (hatred, anger, vexation) and harm mortals, for their misfortunes. This contradicts Seneca’s Stoic views. The ideas about fata, fortuna, gods, and free will, presented in dramas of 60s, are more similar to his thoughts, declared in the philosophical works.