Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Discuss destiny and fate as a theme in Romeo and Juliet
Discuss destiny and fate as a theme in Romeo and Juliet
Fate in romeo and juliet grade 9
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
One major theme in Romeo and Juliet is fate derives your life. In the prologue the readers are disclosed that the story will end in a tragedy and Romeo and Juliet will “take their life.” During Act 1, scene 2, Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo “coincidentally” meet and is asked to read the invitation list by the Capulet’s servant. Romeo then gets an invitation to the Capulet’s party to meet his star crossed lover, Juliet. Another example of fate is at the end of the play. If Juliet woke up a few seconds earlier or if Romeo waited a few seconds, Juliet would have awakened and fled with Romeo. Finally, before Romeo entered the house of the Capulets he says in Act 1, scene 5 “I fear, too early, for my mind misgives. Some consequence yet hanging in the stars. Shall bitterly begin his fearful date. With this night’s revels, and expire the term. Of a despised life clos’d in my breast. By some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He that the steerage of my course. Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen!” Romeo is saying his life is already all planned out by fate and something bad is going to happen. Another major …show more content…
Foreshadowing adds pressure and anxiety because it builds up thoughts in the reader's minds. These clues indicates their deaths are coming sooner and sooner. In Act 3, Scene 2, Juliet says, “Give me my romeo, and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars. In Act 1, Scene 2, Benvolio says, “Take thy some new infection to they eye, And the rank poison of the old will die. Benvolio foreshadows that as soon as Romeo spots Juliet, Rosaline will not matter at all to him. Another example is when Romeo was banished, and Juliet thinks that without Romeo it will kill her. Juliet says, “ I’ll to my wedding bed; and death, not romeo, take my maidenhood.” Act 3, Scene 2. Most of the foreshadowing in the play gives hint on their death, or how they are desperate for each
Since the beginning of the play, the existence of fate has been leading Romeo and Juliet to their deaths. This is first evident in the play’s dialogue when the Serving man asks Romeo to help him read the guest list for Capulet’s party. Shakespeare writes, “God’I’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you read?/ Ay, mine own fortune in my misery” (I,ii,58-59). This demonstrates the theme of fate because Verona is a large city and the Serving man can be in any street in Verona asking any individual to help him read, but he coincidentally encounters
In efforts to overcome such hindrances to their love, Juliet feigns her death as planned. However, as a result of miscommunication, Romeo takes the news seriously, and thus, being propelled by zealous devotion, both use death as the key to unity. A variety of themes are implicated throughout the play. Fate, in particular, is well demonstrated. By using the motif of stars and characters such as Friar Lawrence, Juliet, and Romeo, Shakespeare truly and masterfully conveys that fate is the inevitable, unalterable and omnipotent force that controls all actions unto their consequences.
Fate is a big one because in document A it says that Romeo and Juliet will die”From forth the fatal loins of these two foes”(“DBQ: Romeo and Juliet: Who’s to Blame”. Doc. A). It also says that they are going to die. It is very prevalent that the two are meet to die. It says in the text ”Do with their death bury their parents strife” and “The fearful passage of their death-marked love”(“DBQ: Romeo and Juliet: Who’s to Blame”. Doc. A). From the support you can tell that it is very easy to tell they are suppose to die.
The reader realizes this when the prologue states, “Two households, both alike in dignity/ In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, / From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,/ Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean./ From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/ A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life” (I 1-6). This translates to say two families have been rivals for many years. Romeo and Juliet are two from separate rivaling families that fall in love. The reader can acknowledge that these two individuals meet one another due to fate. However, they know that because of their parents’ hatred of each other, they can never be together. “My only love sprung from my only hate!/ Too early seen unknown, and known too late!/ Prodigious birth of love it is to me,/ That I must love a loathed enemy” (I v138-140). A decision is made that the only way to be happy is to take their lives. As soon as the play begins, the audience can foresee a tragic ending because of the language used.
Fate is talked about a lot too, which adds to the dramatic features of the play, so as the story evolves everything the characters say can relate back to the prologue in some way when we find out what is going to happen in the end. The quote ?From forth the fatal loins of these two foes? shows that nothing good will happen as fatal means almost deathly and both the families children end up dying at the end. Also in the prologue ?The fearful passage of their death-marked love? means they are fated to die because they are in love through a course of unfortunate events. Also at the Capulets? party when Romeo and Juliet first kiss the rest of the play is almost set out for you.
In this context it means “ending their lives” it hints at taking one’s life as in committing suicide. The audience learns that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die. Another example of fate and foreshadowing is when Juliet is asserting her free will to marry Romeo. She is saying that she will die unmarried if he is unavailable.
Romeo and Juliet is widely known to be a tragedy, but what caused the atrocity for which it is so renowned? Some may argue fate was to blame for Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths, that the situations these young lovers faced were depicted as being out of their control. Could Romeo have refused to attend the Capulet masque? Was Romeo destined to duel the raging Tybalt? Did Romeo and Juliet truly have to kill themselves? If one considers the specific circumstances and causes of these situations, the fact that all scenarios are the result of choice rather than chance, and the notion that the characters were never left without options, only one conclusion can be determined. It was unarguably the decisions made by characters, not those made by fate, that were responsible for the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet.
From the beginning of the play it is clear that Romeo and Juliet are doomed to die, They are considered victims of circumstance but the question is did they have responsibility for their fate? Could things have been different? Was it a bad series of events, was it a coincidence that fate was against them, were outside forces against them, It is not just a coincidence the language used in the prologue 'star-crossed lovers' and 'death-marked love' shows that it was all meant to happen from the beginning of the play, the words 'star-crossed' refers to an astrological outlook on destiny that was widely accepted in the period the play was written in, reference to this so early in the play creates a sense of anticipation for the audience and from the start they know what is going to be the outcome of the play but the question left on their minds is 'Why?' and 'How?'
Throughout the entirety of Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare is hinting at the “star crossed” deadly fate of the lovers spoken of by the chorus in the prologue. Romeo and Juliet are also constantly mentioning their uneasy feelings and how they can sense that something bad will happen, which confirm the aforementioned conclusion. This foreshadowing not only tells us this tragedy planned, but there must be pawns of fate that have to drive Romeo and Juliet together, while at the same time leading them to their death. In Romeo and Juliet, their deadly destiny was written by the universe and characters along the way, such as Capulet, Montague, Nurse, Friar Lawrence, Friar John, and Mercutio.
Throughout the play, it is clearly shown that fate has a huge role in the “star-crossed lovers” dire downfall. This is written in the prologue to foreshadow the ending. The prologue provides the audience with Romeos thought provoking promotion further warming the reader of the omnipresent force of fate which is looking over him, “Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars.” Here Shakespeare use literary techniques such as a metaphor to demonstrates that there is a deathly consequence written in fate for Romeo. Overall this provides the reader with the knowledge of what Romeo is thinking and foreshadows the end of the story. Shakespeare uses clever diction to imply that Juliet’s death is inevitable, "If all else fail, myself have power to die.” This clearly illustrates that fate is involved in the upcoming disaster. Not only have the lovers realized that there is a greater fore involved, but Friar Lawrence has too realized, “a greater power than we can contradict, hath thwarted our intents.” This shows that fate is a subjugate factor in the lover’s untimely
Foreshadowing occurs when the author hints at events that will happen in the book. Shakespeare crafts his plays with specific details that add to its entertainment and immersion; it causes the reader to look back and to pay closer attention to his story. Foreshadowing is found within the play, but is most noticeable during Juliet and Romeo’s conversation from when they are parting ways after he sneaks into her room. “O God, I have an ill-divining soul!/ Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb” (Shakespeare 3.5 54-56). When the reader beings the play, he knows that Romeo and Juliet will die. However, the characters in the play are not aware of their deaths, but have a that feeling something bad might happen. This dramatic irony connects the reader to the play and creates a desire for him to see how the characters’ lives play out. The concept of foreshadowing also plays a major role in theme. Shakespeare’s genius with his work establishes the design of fate along with the idea that a force doomed Romeo and Juliet from the start. Both of these ideas improve the reader’s experience and keep him emotionally linked with the
In the beginning of the story, before Romeo goes to the Capulet’s party, he worries that fate is going to lead him to death, “I fear too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels, and expire the term of a despised life closed in my breast by some vile forfeit of untimely death.” In this moment, he mentions that he feels something unfortunate is destined to happen that night. This is one example of fate because later on, he meets Juliet, which ultimately leads him to his death. Fate has a major role in many other parts of the story but a second example is when Romeo kills himself right before Juliet wakes and Friar Lawrence arrives. This displays fate because Romeo didn’t know that Juliet wasn’t actually dead and fate let him die right before she woke up.
Also, he got over his first love Rosaline very quickly when meeting Juliet, which also set up his death because they were never meant to be. Juliet foreshadows his death by saying "an ill-diving soul,"(act 3 scene 5 shakespeare) she means that she feels something bad is going to happen to Romeo. This foreshadows how she will see Romeo for the last time. This is evidence to show how Shakespeare uses tragic flaws to show that Romeo is a true tragic hero who is responsible for his own demise.
In Romeo and Juliet a significantly horrendous ending takes place, but with Shakespeare's use of foreshadowing he is able to keep the reader from being overly traumatized. For example, when Juliet and Romeo are discussing plans Juliet says, "O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of the tomb"(lll,v,14-56). Juliet has mixed feelings about the arrangement devised by the Friar so that the two of them can be together. Juliet thinks disaster will come of previous tactics developed to allow Romeo and her to be together. In addition, when Romeo is speaking of his love for Juliet he says, "And but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by there hate / Then death prorogued, wanting of thy love"(ll,ii,75-77). Romeo's immense love for Juliet will eventually lead to the fall of himself. Death lingers throughout the play between Romeo and his love, Juliet. In conclusion, when Juliet is thinking about Romeo she says, "Give me Romeo; and when he shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars, / And he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night," (lll,ii,21-25). This suggests that in the play Romeo will end up dying and Juliet will be there to see it. Juliet prophesizes over many topics in the play and in the end they become true. Foreshadowing is used in this play to help the audience trounce the dreadful outcome.
Throughout the tragedy Shakespeare foreshadows the conclusion numerous times by adding clues toward what will happen next. In addition, when in times of despair Juliet constantly will resort to comparing good to bad. Finally, adolescent decision making is truly perceived to be ignorant. On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet’s tragic fate was able to end a feud that had torn apart two families for several generations. The theme that people cannot escape their own fate is shown through the motif light and dark. Although Romeo and Juliet entered the dark together they now will spend eternity in the light.