Fate Playing a Role

1653 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Fate in Macbeth

Fate Playing a Role

The Way Fate Plays a Role in the Characters of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth

There are many definitions for the word fate. The definition of the word fate in the New Webster’s Dictionary is a power that supposedly predetermines events. Also fate means something that is unavoidable. It is meant to happen and cannot be changed. According to Shalvia, the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet has a sense of cruel fate in it. (510). In Shakespeare's Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, fate plays an important role in the lives of many of the characters in the story.

One site of fate in Romeo and Juliet is when Romeo finds out that Rosaline has sworn never to marry. This hurts Romeo a lot and he suffers. Then Romeo is told to go to the Capulet’s house for a party by a clown. Many times in the play the two families have to confront each other in situations. Their first encounter that is seen in the play is after the prince has come to stop the chaos on the streets after being told of the quarrels going between the two families. The two families pay for their quarreling at the end of the story. (Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” 31) Even though the families are fighting, Romeo happens to be invited to the party at the house of the enemy. This is nothing but pure fate. Benvolio tells Romeo to find a different girl and forget Rosaline. Benvolio tells Romeo this to convince him to go to the party:

At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so loves, with all the admired beauties of Verona. Go there and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow. (Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” 46)

In the quote Benvolio is trying to tell Romeo that there will be other beautiful girls at the party that he can compare their looks with Rosaline’s and he says that Romeo will realize there are better girls than Rosaline in the world. Romeo ends up going to the party and seeing Juliet, which is also fated. Romeo could have fallen in love with any girl at the party. But would the other girl have died for him and made the story meaningful like it is.

Show More
Related

  • Fate, Traits, And Choices in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although fate and character traits play a key role in the play, ultimately Romeo and Juliet’s personal choices lead to their downfall. Fate originates all of the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet, from when they met until they die. Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the very beginning of the story and has just found out that she has taken the vow of chastity. Meanwhile, Lord Capulet has given County Paris Juliet’s hand in marriage if he can wait until she is sixteen. The Capulets have a party so that Juliet and the Count can meet and he can then woo her.

    Read More

  • Mercutio Responsible For The Deaths In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Act 1 Scene 1 lines 228-229 Benvolio tells Romeo “By giving liberty unto thine eyes.Examine other beauties.” This is Benvolio tells Romeo that he isn’t in a commitment any more so he can look at other women. I personally think he should have left Romeo alone and let him work through his emotions for a little longer, because it takes more than a day to get over someone. Then, at the Capulet party, Romeo experiences love at first sight when he sees Juliet, the enemy.Benvolio had encouraged Romeo to go to the party at the Capulets houses, through challenging his saying that Romeo could find someone better than Rosaline at the party. Since it was a Capulet house, Romeo was not supposed to be there. If Romeo had not gone to the party, he would have never met

    Read More

  • How Poor Decisions Brought Misfortune in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, all the choices made by the star crossed lovers have consequences. The two lovers blame fate for their misfortune. They refuse to believe that fate does not determine the end result, only that they can do that. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is presented with a plethora of choices. The audience is introduced to Romeo as he sulks over his lover Rosaline.

    Read More

  • Fate or Coincidence in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are two "star-crossed lovers". Their families are sworn enemies. When Romeo, Benvolio and others go to a Capulet party in the beginning is fate. Another event is when Capulet moves the wedding of Juliet and Count Paris up one day. A final event is when Romeo finds Juliet in the tomb. If Romeo had come a few minutes later he would've found Juliet awake. These events affect the tragic ending of the play.

    Read More

  • wilson

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    With Wilson saying that he would kill his half of an invisible dog, the town would give him a nickname that would stick with him forever, that name is Pudd’n head Wilson. Pudd’n head is another name for idiot. Which given the date that this novel takes place, Wilson, who is a college educated man would not be considered an idiot, he would be considered a very smart man. Wilson would disguise himself as an idiot when he’s actually a very smart and intelligent man. Through the novel Wilson would always be in the background, not to make himself known unless he wanted to be seen or heard.

    Read More

  • Overview of the Whaling of the Makah People

    1441 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Makah’s seemingly domestic issue of whaling has and is taking on a larger international problem. The United States plays a large part in policing the hunting of whales, one of the most recent examples being the U.S.’s ...

    Read More

  • The Destruction of the Minke Whale in Mobe Dick by Herman Melville

    1196 Words  | 3 Pages

    Handwerk B. Whale hunting to continue in Antarctic sanctuary. National Geographic Daily News [Internet]. National Geographic; 2010 June 25 [cited 2014 Jan 23]. 18 paragraphs. Available from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/100625-whaling-whales-ban-iwc-japan-hunting/

    Read More

  • Fate in Romeo and Juliet

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    In society, people have varying opinions on fate. Many question whether life’s events are pre-determined by fate or whether people have a destiny to serve a greater purpose. Fate versus free will is an archaic topic among philosophers that is ultimately up for interpretation.The question on whether or not something else is controlling life’s events or if they are simply a coincidence faces us in some point of our lives. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays with the idea of fate and its control on the events in the play. He forces us to realize the destiny between Romeo and Juliet involves the fate between the two opposing households as well. Shakespeare blurs the line between fate and free will in his play Romeo and Juliet to show that the outstanding cause of Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy was not something decided- it was fate. It is evident by the events in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that fate was the main cause of the tragedy in the play, and that Romeo and Juliet held the destiny to finally end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the feast begins, Romeo and his friends stand outside in their masks, contemplating how they are to get in because they are Montagues. They make their way in and Juliet catches Romeo's eye. Any thoughts of Rosaline completely clear his m i...

    Read More

  • Commercial Whaling

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most prominent marine hunting nations in the world is the Japanese. Commercial Whaling has been a big part of Japan’s industry and economy, since the 17th century, it has been one of the main sources of food for the Japanese people. During the 1900s, whales became an important part of the Japanese diet because it provided a lot of protein and was accessible to Japan during World War II when food was scarce. The year with the highest number of whales caught by Japan was in 1962 when 226,000 tons of whale meat was sold nationwide. In 1982 a decision was made by the International Whaling Commission that would ban commercial whaling in Japan, this was known as the moratorium that was finally enforced in 1986. Unfortunately the moratorium was only successful for a couple of years; shortly after Japan was able to hunt whales for :scientific research” which did not violate...

    Read More

  • Commercial Whaling: The Ethical and Political Debate

    1447 Words  | 3 Pages

    The quest to gain international agreement on ethical and legal norms for regulation of whaling has had a long and troubled history. The modern phase of global concern over whaling ethics and conservationist management originated in 1946, when the International Convention on Regulation of Whaling was signed. Thus the International Whaling Commission was created. The International Whaling Commission was designed to control and mandate the whaling industry. From it’s beginning as simply a whalers club with scientific guidance, to the current day conservationist body; the IWC has undergone many revisions and transformations since the start. In 1982 the IWC voted to implement a “pause” on commercial whaling (which is still in effect today). Which major whaling nations, Japan, Norway, Peru, and the Soviet Union (later replaced by Russia) lodged formal objections, due to the fact that the moratorium was not based on advice from the Scientific Committee. One major disappointment of this regulation was due the fact that the moratorium only applies to commercial whaling. Thus, whaling under scientific-research and aboriginal-subsistence is still allowed. Japan and other countries have continued their hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary under the “scientific research” loophole. However, environmental activist groups openly dispute the claims and continue their rally to end the whaling industry for good.

    Read More

  • Fate in Macbeth

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fate can be defined in many different ways. Webster's Dictionary defines fate as a power that supposedly predetermines events. Fate is synonymous with the word destiny, which suggests that events are unavoidable and unchangeable. Whatever happens in life is meant to be and cannot be changed by mankind. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, fate plays an important role in the lives of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo.

    Read More

  • Genetic Cloning

    1547 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...y into a cell it usually will not function the desired way. Instead, a carrier called a vector is genetically engineered to deliver the gene. Certain viruses are often used as vectors because they can deliver the new gene by infecting the cell. The viruses are modified so they can’t cause disease and will not be fought off by the patient’s immune system. The vector can be injected or given by IV directly into a specific place in the patient’s body. The vector can also be introduced after , a sample of the patient’s cells are removed and exposed to the vector in a lab. The cells with the vector are then returned to the patient.

    Read More

  • Whaling Essay

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    The numbers of marine mammals present in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States has fluctuated over the past century. Declines have been credited to various causes, which are a mix of anthropogenic and natural processes. One major cause of marine mammal decline is whaling. Even though this practice has been prohibited, the effects of commercial whaling in the United States can still be seen today. The main whale species affected included North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica), bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were exploited in an increased fashion after World War II (Springer et al., 2003). Whaling did not only affect whale populations, but it also affects populations of seals, sea lions, and sea otters. This is hypothesized to be the result of top-down forces from whaling, forcing great whales to shift their food sources to these smaller marine mammals. During the Second World War, whaling of great whales was at its peak. These whales were used for oils for lubricants, food, and other needs of the people of the United States. However, this heavy use of great whale stocks forced killer whales (Orcinus orca) to begin feeding on smaller marine mammals, such as seals, sea lions, and sea otters (Trites et al., 2006). It is also thought that declines in these smaller marine mammals is due to a decline in nutritional limits in their habitats, competition with fisheries, as well as changing climates.

    Read More

  • Killing the Whales

    1552 Words  | 4 Pages

    For the exploratory paper I knew I wanted to explore this issue further, such as what the United States is doing to prevent this, what countries still practice whaling for financial gain, what makes them so sought after and how many do you really need to harvest for scientific research?

    Read More

More about Fate Playing a Role

Open Document