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Fate In Romeo And Juliet

Decent Essays

Alex Sutton
Mrs. Riegel
G4
17 April 2015
The tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet
Some people may not believe that fate is something real that actually exists in the world. These people doubt that there is anything that is meant to be or supposed to happen, thinking that there is always a way around difficult problems, thinking that it isn't necessarily going to end up a certain way. They believe that whatever happens in their lives comes as a result of the choices that they make with their own free will. Others, however, know that whatever will happen during the path of their lives is inevitable, and every moment is predetermined and set before them like some sort of map; in layman's terms, fate. Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, has fate as …show more content…

A page talks to Romeo and Benvolio in the first act, not knowing they are Montagues, and tells them about the Capulet party: "My master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not / of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a / cup of wine" (Act I scene ii, lines 86-88). It's fate that Romeo and Benvolio stumble upon the Capulet page and find out about the party. It is not just a mere coincidence that the page tells the two about the party, at which Romeo's destiny is that he will meet his true love. Of all the people the page could've asked to read the guest list, why was Romeo chosen? The play states that Romeo is the first person seen by the page, but furthermore, before Romeo goes to Capulet's party, he says, "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars / shall bitterly begin this fearful date" (Act I scene iv, lines 114-115). Romeo can already predict what fate has in mind as he says something bad might happen if he goes to the party, where he meets Juliet. The final deaths of both Romeo and Juliet are the "consequence" that Romeo talks about, and the bitterness that starts the road to their untimely deaths is their first encounter, since they are sworn enemies at birth. Because of these reasons, Romeo and Juliet's first meeting is definitely going to happen at the party, fate being the powerful force behind all of this, determining their …show more content…

Take this for example, instead of knowing about Friar Lawrence's plan, Romeo gets told by Balthasar about Juliet's supposed "death": "Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, / And her immortal part with angels lives" (Act V Scene I, lines 19-20). Though it seems like just another random coincidence that Balthasar was the one to give the news to Romeo about Juliet's "death", it's more than likely that fate was the primary cause of it all. Because of fate, Balthasar came to Romeo and told him what he thought was true, but the news that Balthasar gives is the cause of Romeo's death . Friar Lawrence's plan is also completely foiled, because Friar John is held back in quarantine and not able to send word to Romeo: "I could not send it / Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, / So fearful were they of infection" (Act V Scene iii, lines 14-16). Because Friar Lawrence's message is of utmost importance to his plan, the fact that it's never sent turns out to be deadly for poor Romeo. Romeo, not knowing that Juliet isn't actually dead, makes a huge mistake that leads himself and Juliet toward their deaths. The fate that overruled the friar's plan leaves Romeo with a death wish, which destines the two lovers to their tragic fate:

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