This quote, "Oh, the accident necessary to fiction!", highlights the unexpected and often serendipitous nature of storytelling. It celebrates the idea that fiction—unlike strict reality—is enriched, sometimes even born, from accidents, mishaps, and surprising turns of events. In literature, accidents often serve as catalysts for plot development, character growth, or thematic exploration. They create moments of tension or humor, allowing stories to unfold in ways that feel organic and believable despite their fictional nature. From a broader perspective, the phrase also invites us to reconsider the role of chance in our own lives and narratives. Just as fiction thrives on unpredictable events, real life is punctuated by accidents that shape our identities and destinies in profound ways. Considering the accident as a necessity underlines the importance of embracing the unpredictable and valuing the unforeseen as a vital ingredient to creativity and understanding. In the context of Gregory Maguire's work, known for reimagining and deepening known stories or fables, it suggests an acknowledgment that the twists and turns within a story are not just random mishaps but essential sparks that enliven the narrative and provoke thought. This perspective helps appreciate storytelling not as a clean, linear process but as a dynamic and, at times, chaotic art form that mirrors the complexity of the human experience. Therefore, the accident is not merely an incidental occurrence but an essential embrace of the imperfect and unexpected, which ultimately enriches fiction in all its forms.