“Everything happens for a reason” (Marilyn Monroe). There are people in the world who do not think that fate exists. These people believe that whatever happens during their lives happen because of the choices that they make, and their own free will. However, others believe that whatever occurs during their lives is inevitable and that every event is predetermined, and in other words, fate. The powerful concept of fate has intrigued many writers, especially William Shakespeare. Although Romeo and Juliet try to find many ways to be together, it is almost certain that they have no say in their fate, and that their fate is set on an unchangeable course. In William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet has fate as an exceptionally important force. The effects of predetermined fate are demonstrated through Romeos foreshadowing and through his words. Juliet also shows predetermined fate through her speech. Lastly it is again a result of predetermined fate that flaws Friar Lawrence’s plan which eventually leads to Romeo and Juliets dire deaths.
The effects of predetermined fate are demonstrated through Romeo’s foreshadowing, and through his words. In the next quote, Romeo is foreshadowing that his party crashing will bring dire consequences. He then predicts that the Capulets party will be the beginning of something very bad, something that will result in his own death, and that would be meeting Juliet.
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“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” (Shakespeare 1.5. 107-113). Due to fate, the play becomes exciting and it is exactly what manages the two young lovers to meet each other in the first place. Due to fate, the moment that Romeo and Juliet meet is the exact incident that leads to their death. Romeo again references fate after Tybalt and Mercutio die. “I am fortune’s fool!” (Shakespeare 3.1. 99). Romeo calls himself Fortune's fool. Here, Romeo is referencing the prologue, where the audience learns that Romeo and Juliet are fated for misfortune and doom. But Romeo also feels that fortune is being especially cruel because he just got married, and now the Prince might kill him. Finally, his words bring the idea of predetermined fate back into one’s mind. Juliet also shows predetermined fate through her speech. Since Romeo and Juliet are doomed and fated to be in love, not even their feuding families can keep them apart. “My only love, sprung from my only hate!” (Shakespeare 1.5. 138). Despite the fact that they were born into feuding families, Romeo can't help but love Juliet because he already loves her before he discovers her true identity as a Capulet. Therefore, it is fated that she loves Romeo even though it is forbidden. Furthermore, another example of predetermined fate is demonstrated in the following quote. In the quote, Juliet is expressing her feelings after the Nurse has just told Juliet that Romeo is a Montague, and their enemy. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other word would smell as sweet." (Shakespeare 2.2. 43-44). Fate has already taken effect, and Juliet is already in love with Romeo, therefore the Nurses information has come too late to save Juliet from the difficult situation with Romeo. In summary Juliet has already been sucked in love's pull, which destroys her chances of changing her true fate of being in love with Romeo. It is also a result of fate that flaws Friar Lawrence's plan which eventually leads to Romeo and Juliets dire death. For example, instead of knowing about what the friar has in mind, Romeo is informed by Balthasar about Juliet's "death". “Her body sleeps in Capels' monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault And presently took post to tell it you.” (Shakespeare 5.1.18-21). Though it seems like a sincere accident that Balthasar is the one to tell Romeo about what has happened, it is more likely that fate has a greater effect. By fate, Balthasar comes to Romeo and tells him what he believes is true, but the information he shares is the cause of Romeo’s death. Friar Lawrence's plan is again ruined by fate because Friar John is unable to deliver the message to Romeo. “I could not send it— here it is again— Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection” (Shakespeare 5.2.14-17). Since Friar Lawrence's message is so important to the plan he conceived, the fact that the letter is never sent creates a major rupture in Friar Lawrence’s plan that turns out to be deadly. Romeo, not knowing that Juliet isn't truly dead, makes a fatal mistake that leads him and Juliet toward their dooms. The fate over the friar's plan leaves Romeo to die, which destine Juliet and himself to their definite fate, death. In conclusion, in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, predetermined fate as an exceptionally important force.
The effects of predetermined fate are demonstrated through Romeos foreshadowing, and through his words. It is again a result of predetermined fate that Juliet shows through her speech. Lastly, it is also a result of predetermined fate that flaws Friar Laurence's plan for Romeo and Juliet. Taking into consideration that Romeo and Juliet are predetermined to meet, love, and die together, fate is clearly the dominant force for the
play.
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 the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, all the choices made by the star crossed lovers have consequences. The two lovers blame fate for their misfortune. They refuse to believe that fate does not determine the end result, only that they can do that. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is presented with a plethora of choices. The audience is introduced to Romeo as he sulks over his lover Rosaline.
Some people may not believe that destiny is something that truthfully exists in the world. These people doubt that there is anything that is actually meant to be, or supposed to happen, thinking that there is always a way around troubling predicaments, knowing that it is not necessary to turn out just one certain way. They trust that whatever occurs in their lives comes as a result of the decisions that they make with their own free will. Others believe that whatever happens during the course of their lives is inevitable and every event is laid out before them like a road map to life, in other words, fate. William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet has fate as an exceptionally crucial element which makes fate as important as any character in the production. The events leading up to and during the party were definitely caused by fate. The moment that Romeo and Juliet meet is the exact incident that leads to their death, however unaware these "star-crossed lovers" are to that fact. Thus, fate is undoubtedly the most responsible influence for the couple's tragedy.
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.
Some people may not believe that fate is something that truthfully exists in the world. This portion of the population doubts that there is anything that is actually meant to be or supposed to happen thinking that there is always a way around troubling predicaments, knowing that it isn't necessary to turn out just one certain way. They trust that whatever occurs in their lives comes as a result of the decisions that they make with their own free will. Others, however, believe that whatever happens during the course of their lives is inevitable and every event predestined and laid out before them like a roadmap to life; in other words, fate. William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet has fate as an exceptionally crucial force, pulling the characters into a more animated state. Because of fate, the play becomes tremendously thrilling and it is exactly what manages the two young lovers to meet each other in the first place. The moment that Romeo and Juliet meet is the exact incident that leads to their death, however unaware these "star-crossed lovers" are to that fact. Thus, fate is undoubtedly the most responsible influence for the couple's heartbreaking tragedy.
Poor choices can cause tragic outcomes. Fate, on the other hand, is beyond someone's control. Many people believe that regardless of their actions, fate and destiny determine the outcome of their lives. However, in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, the outcome of Romeo and Juliet's lives were controlled by the choices that they made. Although the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were mentioned in the prologue of the story as star-crossed lovers, the tragic ending of the couple was determined by their free will as a result of unwise decisions.
Fate is the outcome of inevitable events that are predetermined and usually lead to death, ruin, or misfortune. Fate played a huge roll in Romeo and Juliet’s death as it may have already been planned out therefore making their deaths
Predetermined destiny writes out our stories before we experience them and is essential to Romeo and Juliet. The star-cross’d lovers gig basically fueled the whole love-filled dramatic play. Although, Romeo and Juliet both learn this, the hard way, costing their lives, as their love was fated to end in death, unfortunately. In the prologue, lines 6-11 state, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventures piteous overthrows, Do with their death bury their parents’ strife. The fearful passage of their parents’ rage, Which but their children’s end naught could remove” (Beers 807).
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.
In society, people have varying opinions on fate. Many question whether life’s events are pre-determined by fate or whether people have a destiny to serve a greater purpose. Fate versus free will is an archaic topic among philosophers that is ultimately up for interpretation.The question on whether or not something else is controlling life’s events or if they are simply a coincidence faces us in some point of our lives. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare plays with the idea of fate and its control on the events in the play. He forces us to realize the destiny between Romeo and Juliet involves the fate between the two opposing households as well. Shakespeare blurs the line between fate and free will in his play Romeo and Juliet to show that the outstanding cause of Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy was not something decided- it was fate. It is evident by the events in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that fate was the main cause of the tragedy in the play, and that Romeo and Juliet held the destiny to finally end the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues.
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. Her words foreshadow her death at the end of the play.
Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Before starting to decide to what extent fate was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, I should first decide what is fate? According to the dictionary, fate is the 'inevitable destiny or necessity destined term of life; doom.' This basically means, that fate can be described as a pre-planned sequence of events influencing ones life. In Romeo and Juliet, it is obviously true to say that fate was a contributor to the deaths of the young couple, but could it have been the sole contributor?
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
Fate may state what will be in one's life however, how that destiny comes about is a matter of man's own choice. In other words, incidents don't occur because our destinies are written. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare expertly uses the theme of fate vs. free will and raises the pre-eminent question of which holds power over the characters. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, fate is not the cause of his downfall, his own desires and choices prove to be the deciding factor.
In regards to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare chose fate to be a strong underlying theme which constructs the basis of the story line. Fate has the ability to control the characters’ lives and one minor change in the way it had acted would have changed the entire outcome. Through Romeo and Juliet’s spontaneous encounter, fate was largely responsible for love at first sight alongside controlling the misfortunate events that occur as a result of their love. Apart from love and misfortune, Shakespeare suggests that Romeo and Juliet were destined to die the way they did, despite the fact that it was their choice to end their lives. The outcome of the play was a direct result of fate, which to a notable extent was responsible for the many events which were destined to occur.