Fate In Romeo And Juliet

769 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Role of fate in greek mythology

Romeo and Juliet Fate. What is fate? In ancient times fate was a major part of life, especially with the Ancient Romans. Insert a sentence about Rome and fate. Now it is used mostly with the idea of consequence. This is especially true in literature. One of the more famous plays with this theme is a play titled Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. The pair of “star-crossed lovers” from this play come from two rival family’s (The Montagues and the Capulets) that have been feuding for decades. The use of fate in this play is an overwhelmingly powerful reoccurring theme because it shows how fate can tear through any situation regarding anything from love to hate. The influence of fate first makes its mark at the Capulets party. In Romeo …show more content…

The banishment of Romeo deeply wounds Juliet and so to make her happy her parents arrange a wedding between Paris and her, who Juliet does not want to marry. Juliet looks for a way out of the wedding and falls onto Friar Lawrence for help. The Friar give Juliet a potion that will help her get out of the marriage by showing “No warmth, no breath” and make her “appear like death” for 48 hours and then she will be reunited with Romeo in the Capulet tomb. (Act 4, scene 1, lines 97 and 103) Fate plays a role in this because when Juliet has her funeral Romeo’s servant Balthasar is there. Balthasar does not know of the plan and tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. This drives Romeo mad to the point that he says “I defy you, stars!”(Act 5, scene 1, line 24) Romeo is saying in this scene that he defies fate and will take his fate into his own hands and rewrite his destiny. This drives Romeo to go the apothecary and buys poison so that Romeo can go die with Juliet in the Capulets tomb. While Romeo is heading to go die with Juliet he meets Paris who blames him for Juliet’s death saying “This…Montague murdered my love’s cousin-with which grief…the fair creature died.” Fate impacts this scene because Romeo and Paris start fighting and eventually Romeo kills Paris. The influence of fate again takes another life in a sad

Show More
Related

  • Fate In Zeffirelli's Romeo And Juliet

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Fate is the Leading Cause of Death in Rome and Juliet by William Shakespeare

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    “It lies not in our power to love, or hate, for will in us is over-rul'd by fate.” In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, it is clear that the leading theme is fate, as it is mentioned several times. Shakespeare allows the audience to see everything that happens “behind closed doors.” While some characters’ actions did affect the outcome of the play, fate is the ruling force.

    Read More

  • Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Fatal Obstacles in Romeo and Juliet's Love Story

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    Juliet, desperate to avoid wedding Paris, visits him, with a dagger in hand. In order to avoid her death in that moment, Friar Laurence promises to give her a potion that will allow her to appear dead long enough so that Romeo may be able to return from Mantua. Thus, the two will be able to escape Verona together. He explains “And this distilling liquor drink thou off/When presently through all thy veins shall run/A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse/No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest” (4.1.94-96). Friar Laurence describes his plan, saying that the potion Juliet will drink will make her appear deceased. It will give Romeo time to get to the Capulet tomb, and they will be able to live together for the rest of their lives. Although he explains his plan somewhat thoroughly, Friar Laurence goes on to say he will deliver a letter to Romeo, that of which is never delivered by Friar John. Romeo hears news of Juliet's so called passing by his companion, Balthasar. He tells Romeo “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 to you” (5.1.18-21) Due to how the citizens of Verona believe that Juliet has really passed away, Balthasar truly believes that she is deceased. He explains that he has seen her laid to rest in the

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a love story that has been read for hundreds of years and is still studied today. The story is about a young boy and a young girl who are in love with each other but both of their lives end in tragedy. Many of the play’s character’s actions affect the outcome of the play, but no character can be put to blame of the outcome. The one thing that these events can be credited to is fate. Fate did many things in the play, such as caused Romeo and Juliet to meet and it caused Romeo to believe Juliet was dead.

    Read More

  • Fate in Romeo and Juliet

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Fate Theme Essay

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Romeo and Juliet fate is evidently a major theme occurring in the play. For instance, people believed the future was written in the stars. In its first address to the audience, the Chorus states that Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed lovers”, that is to say that fate (meaning a power often vested in the movements of the stars) controls them. This sense of fate permeates the play, and not just for

    Read More

  • Fate in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    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?

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet Reckless Quotes

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Over Reacting and Fate in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juilet

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    so then she will appear dead and not have to marry Paris like her father had arranged for her. The next day was the day of Juliet's wedding where she would be married to Paris. The night before she took the potion, the nurse discovered her lying on her bed looking like she had died. Romeo's man witnesses the funeral of Juliet and he tells Romeo of the news. Romeo is crushed so he buys a poison and heads back to Verona to die next to Juliet in her Capulet's tomb.

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet depicts the conflict between fate and free will through use of his characters’ actions and beliefs. Fate is the main driving force between the demise of the two main protagonists. Because of it, superstition, the actions of others, and the idea of chance are allowed a main role in the play building up to events that lead to a tragic end.

    Read More

  • To what extent does fate play a role in Romeo and Juliet?

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    Romeo and Juliet is regarded as one of William Shakespeare’s most tragic love stories, which has its influence on many aspects of the entertainment industry. In the context of this play, there are uncertainties surrounding whether the fatalities occur as a result of free will or under the uncontrollable force of fate. Through Romeo and Juliet’s premeditated encounter, Shakespeare indicates that fate is primarily responsible for love at first sight. Simultaneously, Romeo and Juliet are also portrayed as victims of their own destiny which induces their misfortunes and deaths. Apart from being one of the major themes, fate is also a main contributor to the outcome of the play.

    Read More

  • Theme of Fate in Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fate is the controlling force of the events that lead up to, and cause, the deaths of Rome and Juliet. It is no coincidence that Romeo meets the Capulet servant and is invited to the party. Fate brought him to the house of the Capel?s where he was destined to meet his future wife, Juliet. At the risk of being killed, the two lovers married their supposed loathéd enemy and consummated the marriage without even the slightest hint of detection from anyone who did not know of the wedding. Unfortunately, their sweet success would be short lived and their lives would be a downward spiral staring with Romeo?s banishment and ending with their deaths. Taking into consideration that Romeo and Juliet are predetermined to meet, love and die together, fate is clearly the dominant force of the play.

    Read More

  • Fate In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    The lovers of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet are perhaps the most famous pair of lovers in history. Their story has been told and remade in countless ways, with a variety of endings. The original piece however ends with tragedy in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, fate is the driving force in that the star-cross lovers are destined to have a tragic end. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses literary elements to reveal that our actions are not what controls our life, but it is fate that determines what will happen to us.

    Read More

More about Fate In Romeo And Juliet

Open Document