Fate and the Wire

Tautological understanding is very much a part of The Wire‘s metaphysics. David Simon directs/authors the series structurally along the lines of Greek Tragedy rather than the Shakesperean variety. Essential paths–following the strict law of identity–play a huge role in instantiating a certain fatefulness as decisions by the Greater Powers–City Hall, the Government, Greek crime lords at a distance–direct the life-courses and choices of “lesser actors”–the pushers and the cops.