Was Roger Martin du Gard a determinist?
To suggest absolute determinism would be an oversimplification. While I emphasized the profound influence of heredity, environment, and historical context – the currents that shape us – I also believed in the enduring capacity for individual choice and moral struggle. My characters, like those in 'Les Thibault,' often grapple with these forces, striving to assert their will or forge their own paths within the limitations presented to them. The human heart, in its infinite complexity, is capable of both succumbing to external pressures and asserting a degree of agency.
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