Prophecies Are Always Right: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Prophecies never lie. In fiction, especially [[Fantasy]], a prophecy is equivalent to [[Because Destiny Says So|destiny]]. Prophecy is never wrong, oracles are never false, prophets never turn out to be deluded and "predictions" never turn out to be political allegories of the time they were written in. If they weren't, [[Law of Conservation of Detail|why even bring them up in the first place?]] Prophecies, furthermore, are always believed, except by those who simply don't like what is predicted, or [[The Chosen One]] who [[Refusal of the Call|can't accept his fate]]. They may [[Prophecy Twist|twist]], they may [[Either/Or Prophecy|have loopholes]], they can even [[Prophetic Fallacy|be misleading]], but in the end, the prophecy ''is'' fate, and [[You Can't Fight Fate|you can't fight it]].

 

[[Sub-Trope]] of [[All Myths Are True]]; [[Super-Trope]] of [[Because Destiny Says So]].

 

== Anime and Manga ==

* Parodied in one ''[[Project A-ko]]'' OAV. A prophecy is discovered at the beginning, and seems to be progressing towards fulfillment as the story goes on. At the end, the professor who discovered the prophecy gravely pronounces it to be... a complete coincidence.

* ''[[Mai-Otome]]'': The legend of the Tragic Meister had almost nothing to do with the actual events that led to Mai Tokiha's disappearance; the real story was considerably less tragic, to say the least. However, the same series includes a straight example of this trope (although if the characters knew the circumstances under which the legend of the Guiding Star was fulfilled, it would definitely have quite a few eyebrows raised).

* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'': Carim's annual prophecies are always correct. Now, if only they were written in a less flowery form and in a language that isn't dead [[Cryptic Conversation|so people could interpret what its saying a lot easier]].

 

 

* Discussed in gubgub434's [[Dramatic Reading]] of [[Naruto Veangance Revelaitons]], when Ronan protests that the prophecy that states that he will destroy the world cannot be true. The author says people such as Oedipus, [[Harry Potter]] and others refused to accept that their prophecies would come true, but the prophecies were proven correct.

 

== Film ==

== Literature ==

* In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' this trope normally holds true but is subverted by {{spoiler|Dany's son being satanically miscarried instead of leading the Dothraki to conquering the whole world as was prophecized}}. But it leads to {{spoiler|Dany trying to take over the world}}.

* ''Gregor the Overlander'': Subverted hard. The series revolved around the prophecies of Sandwich (no, really), who wrote numbers of them in his tenure in the Underland some time before. At first, these prophecies seem to be always turning true (the first two books for example), but the third and fourth books become increasingly stretched to fit the prophecy. It all comes to a head when it is revealed that in the last prophecy, {{spoiler|Gregor is supposed to die}}. After going into the final battle, Gregor {{spoiler|does not die}}, and not all of the prophecy comes true, as is noted by several characters throughout the book such as {{spoiler|Ares, Gregor, Ripred, and Luxa}}. However, they still manage to con the people and creatures of the Underland that the prophecy is true {{spoiler|with a little help from Luxa's "prophetic" sister, who believes the prophecies are true in order to bring peace amongst the humans and rats.}}

** Moreover, the primary people whose destiny it is to fulfill the prophecies are aware of what they are doing and are actively collaborating with them. This is said to be necessary because of the way the prophecies were divided in the first place; great care must be taken to avoid another accident which, if it were to happen, could potentially unmake the universe.

** Alternatively, it could lead to new potentials and prophecies, meaning that the original two would less less likely than they currently were (50%) of winning. Although a real and immutably accurate prophecy does exist, Belgarath in his seven thousand years has had plenty of time to encounter many self-deluded "prophets" who are simply mad, and knows how to tell the difference.

* Played absolutely straight in Meredith Ann Pierce's ''[[Firebringer Trilogy]]''. There are three prophecies regarding the unicorns' promised hero the Firebringer, each delivered by a different dreamer. The first describes his coloration; the seconds describes "burning blood, sparking hooves and a tongue of flame: a colt born at moondark out of a wyvern's belly and sired by the summer stars"; and the third claims he would be a Renegade outside the Law and "would storm out of heaven in a torrent of fire, and his advent would mark the ending of the world." The unicorns think only the first prophet was correct and the last two were insane. {{spoiler|By the end of the trilogy, however, every word off all three prophecies comes true, if not literally than at least metaphorically.}}

* ''[[Harry Potter]]'': Both of Trelawney's prophecies in the series come true, although Divination is otherwise treated as a very imprecise art. Also, Dumbledore is quick to point out in the sixth book that not all of the prophecies studied by the Department of Mysteries have or will come true, saying by way of example that had the prophecy regarding Harry and Voldemort not been overheard and relayed to Voldemort, [[Self-Fulfilling Prophecy|it would have never meant anything.]]

** Interestingly, Trelawney made several smaller predictions aside from her big two that were actually right. They were simply dismissed or misinterpreted by Trelawney herself. Only in hindsight can their true meaning be seen.

** Though as Anathema points out, Agnes was mostly concerned with her descendants: as they lived in Smalltown, England, there was a chance they might get hit by a falling brick in Kings Lynn and very little chance of being hit by a stray bullet in Dallas.

** Given the laughter of her ghost when the new book was destroyed (which she undoubtedly saw coming), plus the way it appeared out of nowhere when how she got the first printed was a subplot, this was probably just an elaborate prank on her part.

* ''[[Sword of Truth]]'': Prophecies are always true in the series, and several of the books start out by having the characters learning of one that holds dire consequences for them, or suggests they'll act entirely contrary to their goals and character. The trick is, while they're always true, they're ''also'' always vague, and almost never to be taken literally. Even the ones that ''are'' literal are so only on the surface level, and the reasons ''why'' the characters end up doing the crazy things eventually make sense.

* In [[Susan Cooper]]'s ''[[The Dark Is Rising]]'' series, the series of prophecies that guide the Light come true exactly as written. It's stated that the Dark has its own set of prophecies, but we aren't told anything else about them.

** Gandalf forsees that Gollum's fate is bound up with that of the Ring, and the Ring cannot be destroyed unless Gollum is kept alive. Naturally, this comes true, as Frodo is unable to destroy the Ring in the end, and Gollum is one who destroys it.

** Sam Gamgee also has a vision in the beginning, that he "has something to do before the end," and that he "must see it through." Of course, this comes true.

*** It is speculative whether this is prophecy or more like sudden moment of wisdom.

** These could be somehow justified as Tolkien pretty much stated that fate of world was pre-created during Great Music (aka creation). It does not apply 100% (though it seem to be the case for whole time up to end of Third Age, maybe because stories tend to be too "large" to affect by one or few person who don't act as expected), but does work for most, if not all of above mentioned.

* In ''[[Macbeth]]'', it is prophesied that no one born by a woman could harm Macbeth, which he took to mean that he was invincible; and he is killed by McDuff, who it turns out was born not by woman, but by C-section.

* [[Jack Chalker|Jack Chalker's]] ''Dancing Gods'' series states that prophecies from the better oracles are always true: the only problems are that you usually don't know what the specifics mean right away, and the prophecies don't state what the outcome will be, only what is needed to have a chance of getting the outcome you want.

* Played with in the ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' series. The Dragon is a reincarnated hero who appears throughout time to battle the [[Big Bad|Dark One]]. Numerous prophesies have been written regarding how this will play out. The thing is, The Dragon doesn't exactly know what to do once he realizes who and what he is and there have been numerous "False Dragons". Rather than be lead around by people trying to manipulate him, he decides to use the prophesies as a sort of PR tool. Even if he doesn't believe that they predict the future, fulfilling them convinces other people that he's the real deal.

 

 

* In ''[[Angel]]'', the prophecy that {{spoiler|Angel will kill his son}} turns out to be a demonic fake. The demon in question spent the last few hundred years perverting it so that the real prophecy wouldn't come true. ''Both versions'' end up happening.

** Slightly subverted on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' though; the prophecy about Buffy says she's going to die to free The Master - she does, she recovers, and is more or less prophecy-free from there on out.

* Near the beginning of ''[[Farscape]]'', Aeryn mutters, of Rygel, "One day, your greatest fear will be realized: you will be killed by a Peacekeeper." Aeryn is one of a very few characters in the show to ''never'' show any signs of precognitive ability, but the prophecy still gets fulfilled {{spoiler|by Aeryn's mother.}}

* Similarly, ''[[Babylon 5]]'' is full of prophecies, and Narns are the only species with no telepaths. When Narn Ambassador G'Kar yells in the first season that one night, the Centauri will awaken to find the Narn's teeth at their throat, it's clearly just ambassadorial bluster...that also happens to come true, {{spoiler|near the very end of the show}}.

* Abed from ''[[Community]]'' makes several predictions weeks to hours in advance about [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick|actions, conversations, and menstruation cycles]] of the rest of the study group. Every last one is shown on screen or implied to be correct.

* In ''[[Lexx]]'' the time prophets could see into the distant past and because [[Eternal Recurrence|time is cyclic]] in the two universes it meant they could effectively predict the future. One of them predicted that His Divine Shadow would wipe out the [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|Brunnen-G]] and [[Genocide Backfire|then one of them]] would end his reign. Sure enough, the Shadow destroyed the Brunnen-G and reanimated one warrior as an undead assassin, only for said warrior to regain his free will and fulfill his destiny 2,008 years later.

 

* ''[[Werewolf: The Apocalypse]]'' has a subversion in one of the playable archetypes: The tribe of the character is known for its oracles and she utters quite a few prophecies. However, she never learnt the rite for receiving them and just makes them up as she goes to lend her own plans more weight than they'd be afforded otherwise since she is a Metis (shameful and near-outcast offspring of two werewolves mating with each other).

 

== Video Games ==

 

 

* ''[[Dominic Deegan]], Oracle for Hire'': This trope is subverted. Most of Dominic's prophesies are only possibilities, and he has been known to become a [[Chessmaster]] and manipulate everyone so that the most desirable possibility comes true. The one time he ''does'' get a vision that is unavoidable, the [[Tonight Someone Dies|Fated Fatal]], it only tells him ''that'' someone will die, with no clue as to who, when, or how.

* In ''[[Hitmen for Destiny]]'' there is an organization called Destiny and it's job is to ensure that various prophecies are fulfilled {{spoiler|due to the fact that it's a moneymaking venture and destiny, their moneymaker, is fallible}}. The point of this is discussed in spoilerific detail [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/thorsby/destiny/series.php?view=archive&chapter=40932 here].

* In ''The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny'', it's prophesied that "only one will survive--" and it comes true: {{spoiler|Mr. Rogers!}}

 

== Western Animation ==

{{quote|''Sokka: But the fortuneteller was wrong! You didn't have a safe journey, you were almost killed!''

''Old Man: But I wasn't! Alright, have a good one...'' }}

* ''[[Winx Club]]'': Subversion: {{spoiler|When giving the Winx the Black Gift, the ethereal fairies specifically say "More than one human being could be beyond life's threshold, but you may rescue one person. This is the prophecy, Winx." The next scene seems to suggest that there would be a dilemma between using it on Duman or someone else (many were expecting Bloom, from the trailer that followed the episode). As it turns out, Duman has long been destroyed before the Black Gift comes into play, leaving only Nabu in danger. And then when Layla decides to summon the Black Gift to use on Nabu, Ogron takes it away and uses it on a flower, meaning that it is neither used by the Winx, nor on a person.}}

* Double Subverted in ''[[Kim Possible]]'', when foreign exchange student/heir to his country's throne, Prince Wally, is almost killed in an assassination attempt to fulfill an ancient prophecy that the country's monarchy will end with Prince Wally. The characters pat themselves on the back for a good job averting the prophecy, when Wally, impressed with Democracy, claims he will [[Abdicate the Throne]]. Thus fulfilling the prophecy.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fate and Prophecy Tropes]]