What Is The Significance Of The Fortune Teller In 'The Immortalists'?

2025-06-27 18:41:27 256

4 answers

Harper
Harper
2025-06-30 05:17:53
In 'The Immortalists', the fortune teller isn’t just a plot device—she’s the catalyst that fractures the Gold siblings’ lives. Her prophecy about their death dates forces each sibling to confront mortality in wildly different ways. Simon flees into hedonism, Klara chases magic as escapism, Daniel clings to control, and Varya buries herself in science. The irony? Their obsession with the prophecy shapes their fates more than the prediction itself. The novel asks: Does knowing your death date liberate or imprison you? The fortune teller embodies that question, her cryptic words haunting every page.

The siblings’ choices reveal how belief bends reality. Simon’s reckless joyride through life mirrors his ‘short’ timeline, while Varya’s sterile longevity research mirrors her ‘distant’ death—yet both are trapped by the prophecy’s shadow. The fortune teller’s role is genius: she’s barely a character, just a voice, yet her influence lingers like a ghost. The book suggests that maybe destiny isn’t fixed—it’s the weight we give to predictions that makes them real.
Yara
Yara
2025-06-28 14:12:56
The fortune teller in 'The Immortalists' is like a match tossed into dry grass—her prophecy ignites the siblings’ lives in ways they never recover from. What’s fascinating is how each interprets her words. Klara, the dreamer, treats it as a challenge to cheat death through illusion. Daniel, the rigid brother, lets it corrode his relationships. Varya, the scientist, tries to outlogic it. Simon? He embraces it as permission to live fast. The brilliance lies in how the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling; their fear or acceptance of it dictates their paths. The fortune teller’s power isn’t mystical—it’s psychological. She exposes how humans crumble under the weight of certainty.
Spencer
Spencer
2025-06-29 19:45:33
That fortune teller? She’s the invisible thread tying the Gold siblings together—and tearing them apart. Her prediction isn’t about accuracy; it’s about how each sibling weaponizes it. Simon uses his ‘short’ lifespan as an excuse to love recklessly. Klara turns hers into a performance, dying literally mid-act. Daniel’s paranoia ruins his marriage, and Varya’s obsession with longevity strips her of joy. The real magic isn’t in the prophecy but in how it exposes their deepest fears. The fortune teller’s role is to show that sometimes, the scariest thing isn’t death—it’s living knowing when it’ll come.
Audrey
Audrey
2025-07-01 04:26:18
The fortune teller’s prophecy in 'The Immortalists' acts like a mirror, reflecting each sibling’s core. Simon’s hedonism, Klara’s artistry, Daniel’s control issues, Varya’s detachment—all amplify after hearing their death dates. The novel cleverly avoids confirming if the prophecy’s real or just a catalyst for their choices. That ambiguity is the point: destiny’s what you make of it. The fortune teller’s significance? She forces the Golds to face their truest selves, for better or worse.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Love’s Fortune
Love’s Fortune
“I love you” I whispered and he went rigid, his head snapped up and his blue eyes darkened. “Don’t you ever say that” he growled, clenching his fist “Why?” I asked and held his hand, he averted his gaze, staring at his former love grave. “I can’t love” he said, “I am just a zombie, My heart died with her years ago” Arthur said, pointing at the grave, he looked at me studying my face, “Just don’t say that again please” “It’s okay” I said softly, “But it just don’t change the fact that I love you. And I am ready to be a good wife” I said, Arthur gaze hardened. “That’s your problem,” Arthur said, “I don’t want you to say that, and know your place” His statement hurt, but I faked a smile, and he nodded and walked away, I stared at his lover’s grave and dropped my necklace on it. Maybe she was worthy to wear that more than I.
10
40 Chapters
Secrets and Fortune
Secrets and Fortune
It wasn't until one night when Alex showed up at my doorstep that I finally opened up to him. I told him everything, about the drug business and Johnson's proposal. I could see the pain in his eyes as I explained everything to him. He begged me not to leave him, but I had made my decision. I knew that it was over between us, and I couldn't risk him getting involved in my family's mess. As he left that night, I could feel my heart breaking into a million pieces. I knew that I had to marry Johnson and put an end to this nightmare, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was making a huge mistake. Deep down, I still loved Alex, but I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment.
10
112 Chapters
Betraying Lady Fortune
Betraying Lady Fortune
According to my mother, the men who were loved by the daughters of the Granger family were blessed with fortune beyond belief. In exchange, however, the women of our family were cursed with short lives, not being able to live past the age of 30. Only by having their husbands willingly agree to share their lifespans with them on their wedding day could they return to normal. I didn't want to die young, so I started picking out a husband ever since I was a child. I saved the brooding young boy next-door who was being bullied. I stayed by his side as he went from rags to riches, becoming one of the rising stars of the business world. On the day of our marriage, however, he abandoned me at the altar and went straight to his first love, the woman who used to bully him in the past. While I was searching for a new husband, he had the gall to threaten me with his status. "Penelope, don't push it. You're really testing my patience." Little did he know that he only had his fame and fortune because of me.
10 Chapters
Her good fortune
Her good fortune
Kylie jenner is forced to marry a billionaire saying its her good fortune Little did they knew it wasn't. She stood for herself and made herself one of the youngest billionaire what happens when italian mafia wants to claim her .
Not enough ratings
19 Chapters
My Fortune Is Mine!
My Fortune Is Mine!
"I'll work for you under one condition." I say. "What's that?" "You'll marry me", He smirks revealing breathtaking dimples "Are you sure about that?." I pause for a moment then look straight into his eyes "I'm sure." I would marry Giovanni D'Errico and find a way to get back my fortune. Whatever it takes. Emily Rivera is trapped in a loveless marriage of three years with an unfaithful husband which eventually ends up in divorce papers. Devastated and heartbroken, she goes back to her parents' house and is even more devastated when she finds out her father was dead, she is hit with an even more shocking revelation, her father Alfonso Rivera had left behind a billion dollar fortune in her name. She is aghast by this revelation but there's a catch she has to prove that she's worthy enough to inherit this fortune. Giovanni D'Errico an associate of her father in the past is currently handling her father's properties in the meantime. She immediately sees him as a block between her and her fortune. A proposal of marriage brings them closer and Emily is satisfied that she's another step closer to inheriting her fortune. Little did anyone know that this weak girl was the heir to the Rivera Empire. Emily begins to climb up the social ladder. Her empire begins to rise, she was making a name for herself, her ex-husband wants her back. But little did Emily know that things were about to take a sinister turn. She joins hands with Giovanni as they now have a bigger obstacle to face, evil forces who want them dead. What are they after? Emily's fortune. Emily will do whatever it takes to keep her fortune. Will Emily prevail and come out victorious or will she die trying?
9.8
94 Chapters
Unexpected Fortune Of Love
Unexpected Fortune Of Love
Charlotte’s life changed instantly when she met Prince Lucas, the respectful billionaire. Her only aim was to build a community center and focus on her architectural career. Life with Lucas was so beautiful. She found comfort in the hands of her husband and became the happiest woman on earth.
Not enough ratings
35 Chapters

Related Questions

Who Are The Siblings In 'The Immortalists' And Their Fates?

4 answers2025-06-27 02:45:27
In 'The Immortalists', the four Gold siblings—Varya, Daniel, Klara, and Simon—are shaped by a childhood prophecy that predicts their exact death dates. Varya, the eldest, becomes a scientist obsessed with longevity, locking herself in sterile routines only to face her mortality in a lab accident. Daniel, the rigid military doctor, dies in a freak accident after a lifetime of denying fate. Klara, the magician, chases illusion until her final trick on a Vegas stage goes fatally wrong. Simon, the youngest and free-spirited, embraces his predicted early death by living fiercely in San Francisco’s queer scene, succumbing to AIDS as foretold. Their fates intertwine with themes of destiny versus choice. Varya’s cold rationality cracks too late. Daniel’s need for control makes his death cruelly ironic. Klara’s artistry blurs reality until it consumes her. Simon’s acceptance lets him live fully, though briefly. The novel questions whether the prophecy doomed them or their belief in it did—each sibling’s path feels inevitable yet painfully avoidable.

Does 'The Immortalists' Have A Movie Adaptation?

4 answers2025-06-27 22:16:26
I’ve dug into this a lot because 'The Immortalists' is one of those novels that feels ripe for a cinematic treatment. Right now, there’s no official movie adaptation, but the buzz is real. The book’s premise—four siblings hearing a prophecy about their death dates—has that perfect blend of drama and existential tension that filmmakers love. There were rumors a few years back about a potential deal, but nothing concrete surfaced. The story’s structure, jumping decades between each sibling’s arc, would be a challenge to condense, but it could make for an epic miniseries too. Fans keep hoping, though. The novel’s vivid characters and moral dilemmas would translate so well to screen, especially with the right director. Until then, we’re left imagining how those haunting scenes—like Simon’s dance in San Francisco or Klara’s magic tricks—would look in film. Interestingly, author Chloe Benjamin has mentioned in interviews that she’s open to adaptations but wants them done right. The book’s themes of fate and free will need a delicate touch. Maybe that’s why studios are cautious. For now, the closest thing we have is fan art and book club debates about who should play the Gold siblings. A visually stunning indie director like Sofia Coppola or Barry Jenkins could nail the tone—melancholic yet luminous.

Why Is 'The Immortalists' Considered A Philosophical Novel?

4 answers2025-06-27 21:52:16
'The Immortalists' digs deep into the human obsession with cheating death, making it a philosophical playground. The premise—four siblings learning their exact death dates from a mystical fortune teller—forces each to grapple with fate versus free will. The novel dissects how this knowledge shapes their lives: one becomes reckless, another obsessive, a third spiritual, and the last defiantly pragmatic. Their choices mirror existential debates—do we create meaning, or is it predetermined? The prose weaves in Camus-like absurdity and Nietzschean will-to-power moments, especially when characters confront their mortality head-on. The sibling who embraces hedonism echoes Epicureanism, while another’s turn to medicine mirrors Baconian control-over-nature ideals. The book doesn’t preach but asks: if you knew your expiration date, would you live differently? It’s philosophy dressed as family drama, with death as the unspoken narrator.

How Does 'The Immortalists' Explore The Theme Of Destiny?

4 answers2025-06-27 01:49:38
'The Immortalists' dives deep into destiny by showing how the Gold siblings' lives unravel after learning their predicted death dates from a mystical fortune teller. The novel cleverly explores whether destiny is fixed or shaped by our choices. Simon, the youngest, embraces hedonism, believing his short lifespan justifies reckless living. Klara chases her dream as a magician, defying her fate through sheer will. Daniel, the skeptic, clings to control, only to spiral into paranoia. Varya, the scientist, tries to outsmart death through research, sealing herself in a cage of fear. The book doesn't just ask if destiny is real—it shows how the idea of it can consume us. Each sibling's path reflects their relationship with time: some race against it, others surrender, but all are haunted by that prophecy. The irony? Their beliefs about destiny become self-fulfilling. The prose is sharp, blending magical realism with raw human drama, making you wonder: do we chase fate, or does it chase us?

How Does 'The Immortalists' Depict The 1960s New York Setting?

4 answers2025-06-27 12:19:15
The Immortalists' paints 1960s New York as a gritty yet vibrant tapestry, where the Gold siblings’ lives unfold against a backdrop of cultural upheaval. The Lower East Side tenements hum with immigrant resilience, their cramped kitchens smelling of simmering brisket and Yiddish chatter. Outside, the streets pulse with folk music drifting from cafés and the occasional protest march—echoes of Vietnam and civil rights. The novel nails the era’s contradictions: the glamour of uptown galleries clashing with downtown’s bohemian squalor, where artists chain-smoke over existential debates. Benjamin’s chapters capture the queer underground pre-Stonewall, a world of coded glances and hidden bars, where danger and desire share a dance. Meanwhile, Klara’s Vegas escapades contrast sharply with her New York roots, highlighting the era’s escapism. The city’s energy mirrors the siblings’ restless searches for meaning—whether in magic, medicine, or mortality. The 1960s setting isn’t just scenery; it’s a character, shaping their dreams and downfalls with its chaotic, electric heartbeat.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status