Free will ultimately brought about the death of Romeo and Juliet. Obviously Juliet and Romeo’s ending was predetermined for them because it is after all a play. Which in some ways invalidates the debate of whether or not they had free will. However with a willing suspension of reality we can analyze the events that take place had this been a real situation. The events leading up to Romeo and Juliet’s untimely death are at best circumstantial, and each one is individually preventable. Some of the events could be considered fate on the premise of a chain reaction, however for my purposes I will say that had they not made the choice that had started the chain reaction it would not have happened. Therefore, it is still based upon free will.
not in control of our lives. It is also controversial because it wrestles with the idea of a world possibly without moral
There are many philosophical debates over countless amounts of things. One of the big debates is over the question: Do humans perform actions via free will or is every action performed part of a bigger picture? Are human beings all victims of what is known as fate? Which side is correct is up for debate obviously. Both sides of this never ending debate provide excellent arguments on whether or not humans are free to choose their own actions, but in this Super-Bowl of all debates, only one team can come out on top. Yes, human beings act on free, but this does not mean that fate is inexistent. It merely means that fate plays a much smaller part and is not quite what people interpret it as. Many believe everything that happens to a person is already predetermined by a higher power, but the validity of their stance depends on the actual existence of a higher power, a "creator" of everybody's fates. The attempt to prove this existence has taken thousands of years without prevail, and has showed no true signs of improvement. The stance that I take is on the side which argues in the favor of free will, and I will not budge unless the opposing side can prove to the world that this "creator" exists.
William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet would not have ended in a tragedy if specific characters had not made fatal decisions and crucial mistakes. The ongoing feud between the two families, the Capulet’s and the Montague’s set the stage for a tragic end. Friar Lawrence’s plan to help Juliet escape with Romero had faults that led to the demise of the two lovers. Tybalt Capulet helped in promoting the anger and hatred that maintained a hostile environment between the two families. These were the main events and the four characters that made that great love story end in a tragedy.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the character of Macbeth as one ruled by free will to illustrate that human lives are inflicted by the actions that they decide upon rather than a predetermined fate. Macbeth’s choices to fulfill the prophecies that the three evil witches gave him depict that, although, characters are influenced by others, ultimately their decision is what they follow through with and what impacts their life the most.
The feud between Romeo and Juliet’s family is a monumental factor in each of their deaths. The Capulets and Montagues have loathed each other since time began. The families can’t remember why, or even when this rivalry occurred. As stated in the prologue of the play, “From ancient grudge breaks new mutiny.” The Capulets and Montagues could not find an agreement until the death of their children. “And the continuance of their parents’ rage, which but their children’s end, naught could remove.” Romeo and Juliet’s love could have been made a lot easier if the two families were not feuding. Instead of star crossed lovers they could have been called a happy couple. Many things would have changed. In Act 5, scene 5, line 296 Capulet says to Montague, “O brother Montague, give me thy hand. this is my daughter's jointure, for no more can I demand.” The death of Romeo and Juliet brought about peace, but the cost of their differences was an untimely demise. Was Romeo and Juliet’s death necessary for peace between the families? No one can say. It could be stated that part of William Shakespeare’s genius is that he has kept his audience guessing for over hundreds of years. Although it is impossible to conclude that the two had any control o...
Fate, as described in the Oxford English Dictionary, is “The principle, power, or agency by which, according to certain philosophical and popular systems of belief, all events, or some events in particular, are unalterably predetermined from eternity.” To the western world, fate is perceived as “a sentence or doom of the gods” (Oxford). They often sought prophecies of the gods, especially from Apollo, the god of knowledge. The Greeks would seek prophecies usually when they had doubts about something, or if they were afraid or in despair. When the gods made a prophecy, the Greeks put all their faith in it and believed that it would happen. When their prophecies did come true, was it really fate that controlled them? If so, was there any room for free will?
It was fate that brought Romeo to the Capulet party which, indeed, is where he first meets Juliet. As they catch eyes for the first time they instantly fall in love; therefore, the literal sense of ‘it was love at first sight,’ is accurate for Romeo and Juliet. They destined to be together, until they discovered they were enemies – Romeo was a Montague and Juliet was a Capulet. Knowing that the feud between the Montague’s and Capulet’s was strong, it foreshadows that if they pursue their love, it will cause problems. Also, their secretive relationship caused them to be dishonest and deceitful with their families because they knew what might be the consequences of the marriage of a Montague and a Capulet. Although they were nervous to tell their families about the marriage, it truly is unfair to be so dishonest because it is her family
The tragic ending to Romeo and Juliet It the result of fate and free will. In the real world, not the world of Shakespeare, everything that happens, happens in reaction to something else. The fact that one butterfly was stamped on would change everything you know today. There is no such thing as fate, nothing is destined to happen, and every decision you or somebody makes affects the future of everything. Aside, Shakespeare uses the ideas of fate to help the story of Romeo and Juliet. In regards to the ending, where Romeo, Juliet, and Paris all die, this would be an example of a mixing of both. Friar Lawrence was the one who instigated everything. Had he not allowed for Romeo to marry Juliet, or had he not set up the plan to have Juliet take the sleeping potion, the book would have ended differently. This would be an example of choice, and not chance. However, Shakespeare writes in the prologue, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life.” (2.3.101) The use of stars usually is related to some reference to a deity. In this case, Shakespeare is saying that a God fated the love between Romeo and Juliet, and was not a choice of either of them. This raises a great argument that the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet was the result of fate.
The blame game began with the Capulets because they were unsupportive, of Juliet’s decision, not to marry Paris. Friar Laurence is also responsible for their death because he forgot to tell Romeo about Juliet’s plan, and lastly Tybalt is responsible for their death because he was the one who provoked Romeo into killing him solidifying his banishment from Verona. There is more than one person that is responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet. The people that are responsible for their death are Friar Laurence, Tybalt and Juliet’s parents, The Capulets.
A newborn baby lies housed in an artificial womb; tubes invade the small fragile body like over grown weeds. The parents weep openly as they watch their precious child lie motionless as it fights for every breath. The tiny machines beep loudly around them as they carefully survey the room counting all the other synthetic wombs that house small bodies. A nurse over hears the desperate parents sorrow as they search for answer to why their child has to suffer." Is it pre-determined fate" the father says, " that our child is destined to die?" The mother stares blankly at her husband; she can see his lips move but cannot comprehend what he is saying, her mind is focused on what she must have done wrong. " How can this be part of our pre- determined fate?" She says as the words of her husband begin to sink in. Both parents set quietly holding hands as they watch their child take its last breath. I ask, was the fate of this baby pre-determined or was it the fate of the parents that were pre-determined.
To support my thesis that the conflict between the heads of the Montague and Capulet families are responsible for Romeo and Juliet's death, I quote from Romeo and Juliet (V, iii, 291-293) Prince: "... Capulet! Montague! See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! What the Prince is saying is that, see what dreadful punishment has been laid upon your hatred. Heaven finds a reason to kill your joys with their love!"
Love is stronger than hate. Romeo and Juliet are from two different families, the Montague and the Capulets. Juliet is a Capulet where Romeo is a Montague. The first time Romeo and Juliet meet is at the Capulet party. At the Capulet party, Romeo and his friends are in attendance. This is when Romeo spots Juliet across the room. The moment Romeo saw Juliet he couldn’t keep