Romeo And Juliet Fate Quotes

The theories of fate and destiny entail a limitation of human freedom. And, while it is apparent that all humanity’s freedom is limited due to certain circumstances, the belief in fate adds to the thought that there is a predetermined course of action that can not be altered despite the amount of effort being placed into doing so. In the Shakespearean/Elizabethan Society, people strongly believed in fate, fortune, destiny, and superstition. In the Shakespearean society, they also believed their lives were already planned out and they had no say in what would happen to them or if they could influence something to happen differently in their life, what this society believed controlled their life was fate. This belief was explored greatly in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet where Shakespeare

applies emphasis on fate's control over their destinies using words such as "Star-crossed lovers" to explain their relationship is death marked. In this play, fate is an exceptionally crucial force in their relationship. Fate played a negative role in the Shakespearean/Elizabethan society because it
determined one’s destination, united people, and devised any action committed by a person or event occurrence to end unhappily.

Fate played a negative role in the Shakespearean/Elizabethan society because it determined one’s destination. When fate determines one’s destination, it was for a specific reason that was most likely crucial and determined whether one would live or die. An example of when fate determined one's destination is when Romeo and Juliet first meet, which is not merely a coincidence. The event that leads up to when Romeo and Juliet meet is when a serving man passes by Romeo and Benvolio and invites them to the Capulet's party, as long as they were not Montague's. It is by fate that Benvolio and Romeo run into the Capulet serving man and discover the party. It is not a simple happenstance that the serving man invited them, but an example of fate because the party is where Romeo is destined. This belief is supported and accepted as true when Romeo says, “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin this 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.

But he that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen,” (1. 4. 107-114). In this quote, Romeo predicts what lies ahead of him and is aware that fate has brought him to the Capulet's party so fate can go through with it’s plans that will eventually lead to Romeo’s untimely demise. Once fate follows through with it’s plans to bring a person to their destination, fate may need to add another victim to it’s surreptitious scheme in order for it's devious plan to go through.

Fate played a negative role in the Shakespearean society because it unites people so it can lead them to their demise. It is common to hear love stories about fate bringing two people together, even in the Shakespearean era. But, the most well known star-crossed lovers are Romeo and Juliet because of their families feud and how even at the beginning, their love was forbidden and doomed. How Romeo and Juliet's doomed love sparked because of their families rivalry is explained in this quote, “ 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.” (Prologue. 1-4). This quote demonstrates the feud between Romeo and Juliet's family, and how this rivalry was of antiquity. Since the beginning, it was apparent that Romeo and Juliet's love is ill-timed, ‘star-crossed’, and ‘death-marked’. Fate even gives Romeo an uneasy feeling and forewarning of what is to come and is shown in this quote when Romeo says, “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” (1. 5. 117-118).
This quote demonstrates that Romeo and Juliet are doomed to love and their lives lie in the hands of each other, just as fate wanted because it will work hand and hand with it's plan. It is apparent that fate’s plan is well-coordinated and all its strategies falls in order so it's plan can go through, as a result of this, each event it coordinates ends the victims involved feeling unhappy.

Fate played a negative role in the Shakespearean/Elizabethan society because it devised any action committed by a person or event occurrence to end unhappily. An example of this is when Mercutio dies. The cause of Mercutio's death is because Romeo is fated for trouble. If Tybalt was not after Romeo, and Mercutio was not Romeo's friend, he would not have died. As Romeo states, “This day's black fate on more days doth depend;
This but begins the woe others must end.”
(3.1.120-121). In this quote, Romeo is aware that the reason for this dark ending is because of his bad fate and that more grief and unhappy endings are to come because of this action. In Romeo and Juliet, it is evident that every action Romeo and Juliet commit, leads to a tragic event or one that causes them to be despondent. The lovers are punished, not only because of flaws within their personalities, but because fate is against them. There are many encounters where fate is involved, such as when Peter runs into Benvolio on the street. It is the encounter that enables Romeo to read the list of Capulet's going to the party. If Romeo did not run into Peter, he would have not gone to the party, hence he would have never met Juliet, hence he would have not died such an untimely death and had such an unhappy ending. It is evident that fate has made this encounter possible. Another event that fate was involved in is before Romeo enters the Capulet's house, he says “I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars,” (1. 4. 107-108). In this quote, Romeo speaks of an unknown danger “hanging in the stars”. Romeo senses the danger that is ahead and that it is based on his fate. This suspicion of events expected to occur hanging in the stars explains how life is predetermined by fate.

Fate is the definitive trouble causing factor in Romeo and Juliet. It is an unavoidable power used as the dominant force that destroyed Romeo and Juliet's lives. Unlucky events that occur throughout the play are caused by fate. Fate is the cause of people arriving at their destinations, certain people meeting, and unhappy endings. It is apparent, even to Romeo and Juliet, that the stars are against them and what happens synchronizes with fate's crucial plan. Thus, this play demonstrates that the Elizabethan society believed that fate played a negative role because of its inevitable life and death plans and it's dominant force in tragic endings.