Historical Determinism

Historical determinism is an idea implying that what has occurred in the past has a direct impact on what occurs in the present, in both personal lives and in society in general. Lisel Mueller was born in a time and place that will fill the pages of history books for decades, probably centuries, to come. World War II not only affected the lives of millions of people around the globe, but also helped to shape those lives into whatever they would become over the years. Whether that tumultuous time inspired creative outpourings or brought survivors to the brink of suicide, the fact that it altered life on earth is undeniable. The theory of historical determinism is common in Mueller's poetry. In a 1985 interview with author andMichigan State University professor Nancy Bunge, she stated, "I'm partial to history. To me a sense of what has gone on in...