Fate is a central theme in Appointment in Samarra. The title itself is derived from a tale about fate and inevitability. In this story, a man encounters Death in a Baghdad market and flees to Samarra to escape, only to meet Death again upon his arrival in Samarra later that day.

Julian’s path of self-destruction prompts questions about fate and free will. His actions might have been part of a predetermined destiny, influenced by a family history of suicide. Dr. English labeled Julian as weak-willed after he was caught stealing as a child:

William Dilworth English reflected on his own life, characterized by meticulous, notebook honesty; the frugal pennywatching, bill-paying, and self-sacrificing honesty that became his creed after his father's suicide. And this was his reward: a son who turned out like his grandfather, a thief.

Even though Julian never stole again, his father’s view of him remained unchanged. As Julian matured and encountered a few financial mishaps in college, his mother cautioned him:

Your father . . . is especially worried about you concerning financial matters because he believes it's in the blood, due to Grandfather English.

It's reasonable to suggest that these and similar events contributed to Julian’s doomed fate. Upon learning of his suicide, his wife admitted that Julian had, in fact, outlived his purpose:

It was time for him to die. There was nothing for him to do today, there was nothing for him to do today.

On the other hand, Julian’s behavior, considered outrageous by his social peers, might be viewed as his first true act of free will. The morning after he throws a drink in Harry Reilly’s face, Caroline demands:

When he approaches her after a brawl at the country club, she exclaims: