Romeo And Juliet's Decisions Essay

Romeo and Juliet Essay

William Shakespeare’s timeless play Romeo and Juliet depicts life as being controlled by both fate and our, or the character’s, own decisions. If one of these elements were removed from the play’s intricately weaved storyline, then the story would have been drastically different. In Shakespeare’s world, an individual’s decisions and fate are intertwined and inseparable; both play an equally important role in all the character’s lives, especially Romeo and Juliet.

An example of this occurs in the scene before Romeo attends the Capulet’s party. “But he that hath the steerage of my course Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen (Act 1, scene 4, lines 118-120).” Here, Romeo acknowledges fate itself, hoping that whoever, or

whatever, has control over his life will guide him properly. His decision was to go to the Capulet party, when there were obvious repercussions of him going. However, as Romeo had said before, there was an unforeseen consequence to his attendance to the Capulet party, his meeting with Juliet and catching Tybalt’s attention, locking him into an inescapable involvement with the Capulet family. It can be said that this event triggered all of the later events. If Romeo had not gone to the party held by his blood rivals, he would have avoided Tybalt’s attention and, most importantly, he would not have met and gotten involved with Juliet.
Another instance of this occurs right after Romeo’s meeting with Juliet, “ O dear account, My life is my foe's debt (Act 1, scene 5, lines 131-132).” This is Romeo’s reaction after realizing Juliet’s identity, by way of Juliet’s personal nurse (maid).

This is an expansion of the effects of Romeo attending the Capulet’s party. Again, Romeo decided to go to the party, which he was clearly not supposed to attend, so it was by his hand that he involved the Montagues with the Capulets into a dilemma that would eventually take numerous lives from both sides. He, without realizing involved everyone he cared for and everyone he was against. This one decision of his caused a whole barrage of fate based event,; a chain reaction of some sort where one event led to

another.
Another instance of this can be found when Benvolio advises Romeo to flee, “ Romeo, away, begone!

The citizens are up, and Tybalt is slain (Act 3, scene 5, lines 138-138).” Benvolio warns Romeo he had slain Tybalt, telling him to flee or he would be caught by citizens awaken by the ruckus caused by their dueling. It was a lapse in judgement for both parties to duel against one another. It was Romeo who decided to end Tybalt’s life by refusing to not partake in fighting. Also, Tybalt is at fault for setting this whole event into motion by provoking Mercutio and Romeo, and later slaying the former. However, Tybalt’s rage came from Romeo attending the Capulet party. So, it could be said that this whole dilemma would not have happened if Romeo had not gone to the party, which he was not invited

to.
Finally, an example of fate-human decision event is when Juliet decides to kill herself. “Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O, happy dagger, This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die (Act 5, scene 3, lines 174-175).” The decision part here is Juliet’s decision to commit suicide, so her death is easily not fate related, as she made a decision that altered the story. But, Romeo and Juliet are also victims of fate. Romeo had no control of the the situation, and thus decided to kill himself moments before Juliet rose from her slumber. Sure, Romeo decided to drink the poison, but fate determined that he drink it before Juliet awoke. This is also a result from the letter that Friar Lawrence sent to Romeo not arriving to him. It was a factor none of the parties could have controlled, and all their efforts to fix this problem are rendered useless. If Romeo had received the letter, then both him and Juliet would have lived.
Life, at least through William Shakespeare’s eyes, is up to fate and decision to decide. The story of Romeo and Juliet cannot exist without both of these factors put into play. Without one or the other, none of the story would remain the same.William Shakespeare's expert weaving of these two ideas does not allow for a change to take place.