Fate Explored in Romeo and Juliet
Fate Explored in Romeo and Juliet
“A pair of star-cross’d lovers,” (prologue, line 6). Since the opening of the play, Romeo and Juliet were destined to die. Throughout each act and throughout each scene, from constant foreshadowing and ill omens, even Romeo and Juliet knew their tragic fate. As much as the two lovers wanted to be together, all their efforts and the efforts of others were purely futile, and as much as everyone wanted to blame others, only fate is to blame.
It is a common belief that both Romeo and Juliet’s parents are at fault, for keeping the family feud going, or that Romeo and Juliet’s haste is to blame, or that the Friar and the Nurse shouldn’t have concealed Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, and that they affected the unfortunate end of the two lovers. However, during the play, fate and fortune are mentioned numerous times and are obviously the deciding factors in the tragedy. “These violent delights have violent ends,” (Act 2, scene 6, line 9)
“I dreamt my love came and found me dead” (Act 5, scene 1, line 6)
“…For my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/” (Act 1 scene 4, lines 106-107)
Even the sequence that allows Romeo to meet Juliet in the first place is completely coincidental. Only because Romeo bumped into a servant, who couldn’t read, who happened to have the list of guests, which included Rosaline, and because of Benvolio’s comment, did Romeo end up attending the Capulet ball. This may have been the first step that caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, since by attending the ball, Romeo meets Juliet and also is sighted by Tybalt. From there, Tybalt, determined to kill Romeo, forces the brawl in which he and Mercutio are killed, causing Romeo’s banishment. Eventually, each subsequent action leads to the regrettable end.
Fate becomes much more prominent in the fifth act. Fate dictated that Friar John would never deliver Friar Laurence’s critical letter, ruining Friar Laurence’s clever and elaborate plan. “A greater power than we can contradict/ Hath thwarted our intents” (Act 5, scene 3, lines 153-154) In turn, Balthasar delivers news that Juliet is dead and in turn Romeo charges back to Verona. It is interesting to note Romeo’s bold quote “I defy you,...