Inevitable Fate In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

     Fate, for better or worse, interrupts everyone’s daily life, whether he/she chooses to acknowledge it or not. Thinking about fate conjures up different feelings for different people; some people believe strongly in it, some people think of fate as ridiculous, and some do not care one way or the other. However, in many instances, such as in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, far too many coincidences occur to be strictly coincidental. Fate creates a powerful effect throughout the entire play, starting in the prologue, continuing as Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love, and tragically ending in the lovers’ deaths.

Fate is a hidden, but unavoidable force that leads to certain consequences in people’s lives. The theme of fate plays a crucial role in the main characters of the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet share a destiny that dooms them to tragic deaths immediately after the exchange of their zealous love. Despite their resolute attempts to challenge their destiny, the lovers still succumb to the inexorable powers of fate. In the Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet, the principle of fate propels the lovers together with infatuation, tears them apart through a bitter demise, yet, ensures peace in Verona for many future generations.

In the play, Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, is about two “star crossed” lovers who are destined to end in a tragic accident. Fate is the path that leads to the future and cannot be altered no matter the outcome. Set in Shakespearean time, fate was believed to be in control of people’s lives. The fact that Romeo and Juliet would never live a peaceful life, none of the tragedies would have not taken place if they had not met. In the prologue of the play, Shakespeare outlines that “two star’d crossed lovers take their life”. This foreshadowing creates the sense that fate shall claim superiority. The powerful nature of Romeo

The original author of Romeo and Juliet was Arthur Brooke when he creates a poem about the two lovers. William Shakespeare took the idea and creates a play that shows a number of examples of foreshadowing to be performed for an audience. Starting in the prologue of Romeo and Juliet there are various examples of foreshadowing, for example the tragedy of two star-crossed lovers foreshadows the ending tragedy of the play, two rival families’ fighting foreshadows the tension throughout the play , and Romeo leaving Juliet for the final time foreshadows the two lovers ending their own life.

Everyone wants to marry the love of their life. Seeking the approval of our family and friends, we all look ahead fondly at the idea of living a long and happy life with our soulmate. Unfortunately, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet this is not the way life played out.

Romeo and Juliet rely heavily on the concept of predetermined fate, with many examples revealed throughout the story, the first being early in the story when the chorus states, “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;/Whole misadventured piteous overthrows/Do with their death bury their parents’ strife” (Prologue, i, 6-8). This foreshadows the death of Romeo and Juliet as well as the ending of their parents’ feud. They continue to develop this idea even further in the prologue, throughout lines 10-11, “And the continuance of their parents’ rage,/Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove.” These lines further foreshadow the burial of their parents strife. These lines also reveal that it was absolutely necessary for Romeo and Juliet to perish, stating that nothing would

Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.’What makes a story so compelling?(5.3.10-12) In Shakespeare's tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet, the author makes fated occurrences to introduce the next event. In the story, many are fated occurrences that is not impacted by the decision of the characters but, happens naturally. Further, exploring these events will tells us how fate changes outcome.

When figurative language is used effectively it can be a powerful tool to increase depth and creativity. In William Shakespeare's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet, two young teens from feuding families fall in love despite the many obstacles. Foreshadowing is a literary device that Shakespeare uses a lot of in this play. The foreshadowing in this play reveals the overall meanings of the play, helps develop character and increases interest for the audience.

To begin, the prologue of Romeo and Juliet showed that fate is out of human control. “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life (Shakespeare, 2 or 7).” This quote is describing what is going to happen to Romeo and Juliet. From the beginning of the book, the audience knows that two unlucky lovers will commit suicide by the end of the play. This is an example of fate because no matter what Romeo and Juliet do, they will never survive if they are together.

Fate in Romeo and Juliet plays a central and major part of many of the character’s lives. The audience is given the idea that the lives of the characters are controlled by a higher power. The two protagonists, Romeo and Juliet are branded the ‘star – cross’d lovers’. Named as such, because their relationship is written in the ‘stars’ and doomed to fail. The fate of Romeo and Juliet were foreshadowed throughout the play especially Romeo’s premonition in 1.4, ‘my mind misgives/ some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ shall bitterly begin his fearful date’. However, Friar Lawrence, also contributes to the lovers’ downfall unknowingly. He appears to the audience as a calculated and careful man, but like all other characters he is controlled by fate’s hand.

When figurative language is used effectively it can be a powerful tool to increase depth and creativity. In William Shakespeare's masterpiece Romeo and Juliet, two young teens from feuding families fall in love despite the many obstacles. Foreshadowing is a literary device that Shakespeare uses a lot of in this play. The foreshadowing in this play reveals the overall meanings of the play, helps develop character and increases interest for the audience.

Fate is the destiny of someone and what is destined to happen to them and cannot be altered. In this story fate holds most of the blame for what happens. One example of fate is said in the prologue. It caused the love of Romeo and Juliet “Death-mark’d love…”. (DBQ: Project, 2013) What this means is the fate of Romeo and Juliet's love is destined to not work out, and that their love for one another is fatal. Another example of this is also stated in the prologue. It says “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life…”. (DBQ: Project, 2013) What this means is Romeo and Juliets stars are not aligned which means there love is destined to not work out.

An individual's destiny is controlled by one thing and that thing is fate. During a lifetime fate plays a role that many people won't recognize. One's destiny is always controlled by fate like in the story of Romeo and Juliet, situations that we face everyday and the way that other cultures see fate. Fate is always playing along.

All events in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ were destined to lead to their death. This concept is called fate - the development of events, outside any person’s control, predetermined by a higher power. Over the course of the play Shakespeare used astrological and cosmological theories to validate the universal tie that the lovers posses. He asserts their destiny by using the characters to unknowingly foretell the future. Throughout ‘Romeo and Juliet’ the timing of the play is being led by a higher power. All this evidence supports the role that fate plays in the demise of Romeo and Juliet.

In this paragraph fate is mentioned, as Juliet realizes the significance of her situation, as her kindred spirit is banished. She decides to endure and obey Capulets arranged marriage. Therefore, Juliet contemplates an inevitable solution-death. By this drastic choice, she and Romeo have the prospect of existing together in the afterlife. Foreshadowing Juliet’s plea, the star-crossed lovers eventually come together. They are reunited in the old Capulet tombstone as they both come to the realization that life is unfulfilling without love so each choose to kill themselves.