The Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet
Fate is merely an idea; “the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed” (Dictionary.com). Evidently, fate is an empty word; filled with ideas [and pretty words], but it is blurry and cannot come to a conclusion. We created this idea to explain the consequences of our actions and for the longest time, we argued for fate. However, whether fate is real or not, it is not an aspect we can rely on, unlike our character which is stable and real. Our character governs the way we choose to see the world and what we will do. Individuals have the ability to choose their actions, which are influenced by society’s standards, people, and their character. Within William
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A fact being the truth, “something that actually exists; reality… [Or] … something known to exist or to have happened” (Dictionary.com). When we go to the store, the fact is goods cost money. If we decide to steal the item rather than pay for it, we must understand that we have stolen and accept the consequences. In other words, it is not fate that brought us to steal, it is through poor choices that we have consequences. Throughout the story, the characters must deal with the town’s standards and make decisions. However, in order to deal with those standards, the characters make detrimental impulsive choices that create the negative consequences. After Mercutio is killed when Romeo attempts to come between Mercutio and Tybalt, Romeo refuses to blame himself. Instead, Romeo blames Juliet stating, “Thy beauty hath made me effeminate” (Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 1, Line 13). To the readers, it’s evident that it is Romeo’s fault for Mercutio’s death; blaming Juliet seems like an excuse; and it is. This idea can be applied to fate. It is through Romeo’s actions that the Prince banishes him from Verona- not fates. The Nurse is another example of this; she has played a major role in Romeo and Juliet’s romance. Still, when Lord Capulet introduces the idea of marrying Juliet to Paris and Juliet defies him, the Nurse refuses to accept her role in the teen’s romance. The Nurse explains “I think it best you married with the County… Romeo’s a dishclout to …show more content…
At a time when gender equality didn’t exist, women were respected according to their father 's or husband’s status and wealth. Men, on the other hand, would not have respect if their ability to seduce a woman or kill a man was compromised. As time progressed, we’ve begun to value the qualities of both men and women, eventuating in gender equality. The reason being our standards continuously change according to what society values at the time. Within Romeo and Juliet, the society values the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets to the point where the town is split into two; the Montague’s side and the Capulet’s. It is through this standard that many conflicts and circumstances occur. In Act 1, Scene 1, the feud influences the servants Sampson and Gregory, to hate the Montagues. Sampson states, “A dog of the house of Montague moves me… [And]… A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 7, 10-11). Despite the feud having nothing to do with the servants, they are brainwashed with the fake value of the grudge. It is because of this impact that the town fight in Act 1, Scene 1 occurs. If the value of the feud had not been set so high, there would not be “three civil brawls by … old Capulet and Montague” (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 87-88) and the Prince wouldn’t have threatened the families with execution. Throughout the story, the readers see the feud
Did you know that Romeo and Juliet was one of the biggest love story of all time. Romeo and Juliet is a story of two star-crossed lovers from two families the Capulets and the Montagues. The Capulets and the Montague had a big fight that made the families very angry at each other. Romeo and Juliet decide to get married. The two couple marry and run away. In the process both of them will die. When it comes to Romeo and Juliet who are the top three people that caused the two to die. The two people that are chosen are Friar Lawrence and Lady Capulet. Friar was chosen because he is the one that married Romeo and Juliet. Lady Capulet was chosen because she is forcing Juliet to marry Paris which is making Juliet want Romeo even more. The third thing
Explained in Depth: My Photo Essay In Act 1, Scene 1, another fight breaks out between the Capulets and the Montagues. It states in the Prologue: “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,” –Prologue, Line 3.
think this is the case as, in spite of his arrogance, he does care for
Imagine living a tragic existence, not even two entire decades long. Imagine being controlled by an invisible, yet limitless puppet string conducted by “the stars”. When fate is your enemy and time reveals each unraveling tragedy to your dismay, you understand how it feels to be the protagonist’s of Shakespeare’s most famous love story, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Tradition, heredity, and ancestry symbolize the celestial psychology that is the stars. Controlling every miniscule detail of the play from human behavior to action sequences, to the ultimate climax of the tale. The power that fate has is surprisingly destructible yet inevitable to audiences as they come to realize the given characteristics that cannot be changed, even to avoid death. The moment Romeo and Juliet initially saw one another, they were sure their love was meant to be. This feeling was brought on because their love was the solution of the stars, or forefathers, to cure the rivaling families’ animosity. Fate contributes to the development of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by relating to astrological terms, human behavior, and fate as an agent of destruction.
It is often believed that fate plays a role in the end result of peoples’ lives, however, in this tale of star-crossed lovers, fate is not the case. Three characters are to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. They are Friar Lawrence, Lord Capulet and Romeo. Friar Lawrence is the first character responsible for the deaths of the two young lovers because of his immoral actions. Romeo Montague constantly acts too hastily which never works in his favour or any of the other characters. Lord Capulet brings about the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he doesn’t stay true to his promises. Friar Lawrence, Lord Capulet, and Romeo Montague all have character faults that majorly contribute to the catastrophe in the play.
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.
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
Why might anyone kill true happiness? This was the case for Romeo and Juliet. There is no doubt that their death was tragic and horrible; however, the question is who is to blame for their death. Their death was simply on them they are the true people to blame. The story begins with the two family’s Montague and Capulet they rivaled each other and got in lots of fights. Soon after Romeo shows up in the scene when the pore heart broken Romeo from just breaking up with Roseline. From there the heartbroken Romeo goes to a party to get over it. Then Romeo soon meets Juliet and they become a thing. The new couple are wed secretly and only the friar and Juliet's nurse knew. Then after Romeo kill tybalt and is forced to
Fate is a supernatural force that will rearrange the timing of events beyond the control of anyone to lead to a particular outcome. Some people believe that it is fate that determines our destiny, others believe that it is determined by ones self. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, fate is a very prevalent theme that has a mass effect on the outcomes of the play. Fate is foreshadowed through the characters consistently throughout the play showing the reader that destiny is not in the hands of the character, but instead in the hands of fate. The timing of certain actions in the play will impact the results of said actions hence showing fates prevalence. Fate is present when Romeo meets the nameless servant. It is
From the beginning of "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet", the reader knew how the story was going to end, hence the title of the story and the explanations in the start. After reading through the story, there were multiple frustrating moments where events could have gone one way but ended up going in another. Every act in the story added onto the total tragic ending. The things that happened could have been because of fate, but everything had to start somewhere. Everything had to start somewhere. Everything that occurred in the story would not have been possible if it was not for the Friar who had agreed to the marriage.
Many people think that society has changed so much over the years. That the way that children act, has taken a turn for the worst, but in reality children are learning from their ancestors. Children are lying to their parents, they are sneaking out at night to be with a boy that is “the one”, children are going back into the age of Shakespeare. In the play “Romeo and Juliet” which was written by William Shakespeare in 1597, there are two teenagers, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love with each other. These two teenagers try to do everything that they can to live the rest of their lives together, except their families despise each other, so there is no way that they can live the rest of their lives together. So, many people believe that the way that our children are growing up today is taking away the fun parts of their childhood. However in this play Juliet did many of the things that teenagers are trying to do now. Children and sometimes adults now need to realize how your actions not only affect you but also the people around you, you also need to think about the consequences of the actions you make. At first Juliet falls in love at first sight with Romeo, then she takes a potion, which causes her family to think she is dead, and then how Friar Lawrence helps Juliet with the scheming, which shows how adults have to think about others as well.
Firstly, the Capulets and Montagues are at odds with each other. Members of each house and servants break into a sword fight, clashing with each other. Sampson says "Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 60). The feuding between the two families motivates Sampson to challenge the Capulets. Another example of how the two houses despise each other is what Romeo and his friends have to do to get into the Capulet feast. So they will not be recognized, Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio wear comic masks to hide their faces. Mercutio says, "Give me a case to put my visage in" (Act 1, Scene 4, Line 29). They do not want to be recognized because of the hatred between the two houses. Also, Romeo and Juliet are not supposed to be in love: "My only love sprung from my only hate! / Too early seen unknown, and known too late! / Prodigious birth of love it is to me, / That I must love a loathed enemy." says Juliet (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 137-140). They are not supposed to love each other because it just so happens that each of their houses despise each other. It is unfortunate for Romeo and Juliet that their two families are against each other, because this means that they are not supposed to be married.
The beginning of Act one opens with a brawl in the street between the servants of the Capulets and the Montagues. The origin of the fight introduces the important theme of masculine honor. Sampson, one of Capulets servants, shows this masculinity by saying, “Draw, if you be men.” (I.i.64). Later on in the play in Act II, scene i. the display of honor and masculinity comes up again during the fight between Mercutio and Tybault. As Mercutio lay slain Romeo says to him, “Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.” (III.i.96). Even as his friend is dying the two men try and act masculine because they did not want to show their fears. But on the other side of this masculinity is love. For Elizabethan society believed that a man who loved too much lost his masculinity. Romeo clearly subscribes to that belief when he states that his love for Juliet made him “effeminate.”
Fate may state what will be in one's life however, how that destiny comes about is a matter of man's own choice. In other words, incidents don't occur because our destinies are written. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare expertly uses the theme of fate vs. free will and raises the pre-eminent question of which holds power over the characters. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, fate is not the cause of his downfall, his own desires and choices prove to be the deciding factor.
The meaning of fate is the development of events beyond a person’s control. If they went by that definition the tragedy is completely character flaw and not fate at all. Romeo, Juliet, their