Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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If the Titanic did not bump into the iceberg, a tragedy could have been avoided. Why did Hitler get elected? Maybe then the holocaust could have been avoided. If a plane flight was cancelled on 9/11, we might have avoided the deaths of thousands. Why did Romeo meet Juliet in the first place? Could Tybalt and Mercutio’s deaths been avoided? Last but not least, why did Juliet wake up in time to see dying Romeo? What exactly ties all events together? Fate.
In the beginning of the play it is told, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;” (Prologue.6) this sentence indicates that from the very beginning the fate of Romeo and Juliet is written in the stars. Their fate was to fall in love and die with a passion in order to end their family’s feud. Since their fate was bond in a silent promise it might be a reason for their meeting at the Capulet’s party. Romeo, who is broken-hearted, did not feel like joining Mercutio at all until seen Rosaline’s name upon the invitation list. The first meeting between Romeo and Juliet was a memorable one. The two lovers locked eyes and as if fate, fell head-over-heels in love with each other. Romeo forgot at once all about his once beloved Rosaline and Juliet abandoning her thoughts of marrying Paris. The lovers moved too fast and were too rash in their decision-making, but as fate would have it’s way and the two decided to marry right the next day. Right the next morning Mercutio and Tybalt engage in a heated duel. When Romeo arrived on the scene he was still light-headed and giddy from just marrying Juliet and therefore causing him to be soft and loving towards Tybalt. As Mercutio and Tybalt fight a giddy Romeo runs to separate the fight and fate would yet again let Tybalt kill Mercutio as mainly an accident. Romeo been mad and angered due to the loss of his best friend jumps in and demands to fight Tybalt and slews Tybalt. The night before everything was fine but now Romeo is banished and Juliet is short of a cousin and a husband. Many of Romeo’s actions were rash and uncalled for but as a result to fate it all ties together to the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s story.
Halfway throughout the book fate unexpectedly twists the story to a darker note.

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