Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by the ever-famous William

Shakespeare, is an eloquent story of passionate love between two

teenage individuals of a time long ago. These individuals, Romeo and

Juliet, fall helplessly in love with each other, in spite of the fact

that their families, both upper class, have been enemies for

generations. The two lovers therefore strive to maintain their ardent

bond with each other in secret. They also encounter various obstacles

along the way and suffer serious consequences, such as Romeo's

banishment to Mantua and the obligatory marriage of Juliet to Paris.

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.

Throughout the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare constantly

utilizes the motif of stars to convey and develop the prominent theme

of fate. Even as early as the prologue, the words, "A pair of

star-crossed lovers..." reveal Shakespeare's intent in conveying the

association of fate with this motif. Like stars, fate exists in the

heavens. Both are untouchable and unalterable, and as seen in this

line, it is inev...

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...ned his unfavourable destiny

(as having been written in the perpetual book of misfortune).

Shakespeare admirably and cleverly utilizes Romeo to develop and

convey the substantial theme of fate.

Shakespeare ingeniously expresses his view of fate through this

renowned literary work, Romeo and Juliet. He conveys that fate exists

as the inevitable, unalterable, and omnipotent force that

predetermines one's actions, consequences, and thereby one's destiny.

The play also implies that no one is exempt from fate's power and that

all lives and all destinies are determined by it, alone. In addition,

Shakespeare wisely chooses the motif of stars to reinforce his theme

of fate. Containing a rich variety of themes and motifs, Shakespeare's

Romeo and Juliet undoubtedly stands out as a brilliant work in the

history of literature.