Fate vs Freewill in Romeo and Juliet

Two lovers lay dead on the ground. One with a wisp of poison on his breath, and the other with a dagger inside her. In the prologue, Shakespeare reveals to us that two star-crossed lovers die because of their families’ ongoing feud. When the two families discover what has happened and how they caused it, the families agree to end the feud and no longer quarrel. Was Romeo’s and Juliet’s death at the hand of the family in the form of fate, or did their choices cause this tragedy? In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, free will is more dominant than fate in the outcome of the play and is shown by Juliet’s actions, Romeo’s actions, and the actions of others.

Free will is shown first through Juliet’s actions, most notably, when she is supposed to marry Paris, she drinks the potion to put herself in a coma and, when she chooses to kills herself. According to fate, Juliet was supposed to marry the county Paris. “Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn/The gallant, young, and noble gentleman/ The county Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church/ shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.” (3.5.117-120) Rather than making the socially acceptable choice (at the time) and giving in to her parents’ wishes, Juliet defies fate and consorts a plan with Friar Laurence. Juliet would let no one decide her life but herself. “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo!/ Here’s I drink to thee.” (4.3.59-60) Juliet drinks the potion to be encased into the depths of the tomb, thought as dead. She also had Friar Laurence deliver a letter to Romeo, against her parent’s consent, and against fate.“O happy dagger,/ this is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die.” (5.3.174-175). This quote shows how Juliet has let go of any will to live. She is so in love with Romeo tha...

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...ths of the two lovers. No force of fate could have compelled him to do such an act. These actions of other characters in the play such as the death of Mercutio, the apothecary selling Romeo an illegal poison, and the Friar admitting that the death of Romeo, Juliet, and Paris are his fault are the final examples of how free will is more dominant than fate in the outcome of the play.

Romeo and Juliet made many choices out of their own free will, including an irreversible decision that ended in despair for all characters. “All are punished!”(5.3.305). In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, the actions of Romeo, the actions of Juliet, and the actions of others prove that free will is more paramount than fate in the plot of the play.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York City, NY: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992, 2011. Print.