Fate in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

550 Words2 Pages

In Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, fate is the actual ruling force at work. Fate and free will is to blame for the deaths and destruction in the play. At the beginning of the play, the chorus tells the audience that an “ill-fated” couple will take their lives. “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes / A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life” ( Prologue 5-6 ) The audience now knows that these “star-crossed” lovers are destined to die and fate and free will is responsible for it. In the play, Shakespeare blames fate for their death. The chorus refers to the couple as star-cross'd. This is what Shakespeare says kills the couple. Fate causes Mercutio to die as Tybalt slays him with a lucky blow under Romeo's arm. Romeo seeks vengeance and kills Tybalt. Romeo is then forced to leave Verona or be executed. It's Romeo's fault that he is exiled, not Tybalt's. Romeo blames fortune for tricking him. “O, I am fortune’s fool.” (III I 134) Tybalt wanted to attack Romeo but Romeo attacked Tybalt. It is fate that influenced his outcome of death. Even though fate is somewhat to b...

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