Final answer:
Queen Orual believes she can 'cheat the gods' by taking control of her own fate and attempting to shape her own destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
Queen Orual, the protagonist of the novel 'Til We Have Faces' by C.S. Lewis, believes she can 'cheat the gods' by taking control of her own fate and attempting to shape her own destiny. She feels that she can outwit or defy the gods by using her intelligence, cunning, and determination to challenge their authority and manipulate events to her advantage.
For example, Queen Orual tries to manipulate her sister Psyche's relationships with the gods, challenging their punishments and seeking to change their decisions. She also tries to control her own destiny by disguising herself and taking on a male identity to navigate the male-dominated world of power and politics. In doing so, she believes she can outsmart the gods and avoid their judgment.