“Foul Lady Fortune” is a phrase that refers to the concept of luck or fate being unpredictable and often working against people. It suggests that fortune is not always on our side and can be cruel or capricious.
The phrase has been used in various contexts throughout history, including literature, music, and art. In Chloe Gong’s novel “These Violent Delights,” the protagonist Roma uses the phrase to describe her own experiences of struggling against the whims of fortune.
The idea of Lady Fortune or Fortuna as a fickle goddess has been present in Western culture since ancient times. In Roman mythology, Fortuna was the goddess of luck, chance, and fate. She was often depicted with a wheel, which symbolized the ups and downs of life. The concept of Lady Fortune has been explored in various works of art, such as Botticelli’s “The Wheel of Fortune” painting and Chaucer’s “The Knight’s Tale.”
Overall, “Foul Lady Fortune” is a powerful phrase that acknowledges the unpredictability of life and the challenges we face in trying to control our own destiny.
