The Fates are the secondary antagonists of the musical Hadestown. They are Greek goddesses, who design the fates of both men and other gods. They serve as the narrators of the protagonists' thoughts and throughout the story they constantly manipulate Orpheus, Eurydice and Hades into acting on their most destructive and/or evil thoughts.
Biography[]
Act I[]
The Fates are introduced along with all the other characters by Hermes during the song Road to Hell. After that they explain both Eurydice's tendencies to leave other people as soon as she meets them, as well as the harsh conditions in the overworld during the winter in Any Way the Wind Blows and, after she falls in love with Orpheus, they promise her that in Hadestown she won't have to fear the hunger and the coldness that winter brings during Way Down Hadestown. During A Gathering Storm and Chant they constantly antagonize Eurydice, physically assaulting her and stealing her winter supplies and during When the Chips are Down they convince Eurydice that her life will be much better in the underworld with Hades. After that they criticize the audience for judging Eurydice's decision to leave Orpheus and go to Hadestown in Gone, I'm Gone. During Wait for Me they try to stop Orpheus from going to Hadestown by putting doubts about Eurydice's love for him in his head.
Act II[]
During Way Down Hadestown II they mock Eurydice for her decision to leave the overworld, after she realizes what actually happens in the underworld. In Nothing Changes they, once again, try to convince Orpheus that the struggle he is going through isn't worth it and that he should return to the overworld alone. After Orpheus touches Hades' heart with his song, they manipulate Hades into sending Orpheus and Eurydice back to the overworld under some cruel condition of his own choosing. Finally, during Wait for Me II and Doubt Comes In they constantly abuse Orpheus verbally and make him doubt himself, ultimately causing him to turn around and look at Eurydice and thus, preventing them from leaving Hadestown together.
Personality[]
The Fates are portrayed as sadistic and abusive deities, who make people around them act in unreasonable ways and take joy out of making people's lives worse than they were before. The reason as to why they do what they do during the story are never explained and it can be assumed that they simply manipulate everyone around them, because it brings them joy and satisfaction.
Gallery[]
