Fate In Zeffirelli's Romeo And Juliet

Someone once said "An individual can never escape their fate." Fate causes events in a person's life that are only controlled by a higher power. This is evident in the play "Romeo and Juliet" written by William Shakespeare because after reading his play, the reader learns that Romeo and Juliet's fate ultimately leads to their death. In the movie adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Franco Zeffirelli, Zeffirelli does not include some of the significant fateful events that occur in the play. However, the events that do appear in the movie makes the viewer understand that the play’s lesson is fate leads to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths.

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

Not only does lighting portray fate, it also enhances it. An instance when lighting portray Romeo and Juliet’s fate is when Mercutio was really hot and sweaty. The amount of light exaggerated the heat that Mercutio was going through. Another element that adds to this atmosphere is Mercutio’s movements. His exaggerated movements enhance the heat of the Verona sun. If Mercutio was not really hot, then he would not have fought in Romeo’s place. Then, Romeo would not be angry at Tybalt and kill him. Then, Romeo would not be banished and lead to Romeo and Juliet’s death. Both the lighting and the movements show the audience that fate leads to Romeo and Juliet’s